Learn your rights.
We’re here to make legal rights and academic research easy to understand.
It’s hard to fight for your rights if you don’t know them.
We believe everyone has the inherent right to exist and belong just as they are. Yet, the complex laws governing special education services often remain unknown or difficult to navigate for families and educators alike.
Our mission is to simplify this information, making it accessible and easier to understand. While we are not attorneys and cannot provide legal advice, we encourage you to consult a licensed special education attorney for specific concerns.
We hope the resources on this page empower you with knowledge and inspire you to advocate for equitable educational opportunities for children with disabilities.
What is IDEA?
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
IDEA is a federal law ensuring students with disabilities have the right to a free appropriate public education. Originally enacted in 2004 and amended in 2015, IDEA sets the foundation for early intervention, special education, and related services.
The law’s intent is clear from its opening statement:
“Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society.”
This affirms that students with disabilities have an equal right to participate fully in their school communities, academically and beyond. Congress recognizes that education should prepare all students—not only for academic success but also for equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency:
“Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.”
These four goals guide the delivery of special education services. IDEA promotes equality and inclusion, enabling students with disabilities to engage fully in both academic and non-academic activities, fostering independence, and preparing them for meaningful, gainful employment.
The six principles of IDEA are the foundation of special education law, ensuring equal access and opportunities for students with disabilities. We’ve reformatted the exact language of these principles into mobile-friendly documents, making them easy to access during IEP meetings and on the go. While the original text remains unchanged, we've improved readability with section overviews and key takeaways. All original links to government and research documents are included.
Six Principles of IDEA
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE)
The right for students with disabilities to receive a government funded, public education with related services at no cost to families.
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FAPE includes special education and related services that:
Are provided at public expense without charge
Meet the standards of the state educational agency
Include an appropriate preschool, elementary or secondary school
Are provided in conformity with the individualized
education plan (IEP)
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Appropriate Evaluation
The obligation for a school to assess and identify students with disabilities and use those assessments to then create educational plans.
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When conducting evaluations, schools must:
Use a variety of assessments and tools to assess a child’s functional, developmental and academic skills
Gather information related to enabling the child to be involved in and progress in general education curriculum
Not use any single measurement or criterion for determining if a child has a disability or to determine an appropriate educational plan
Ensure assessments reflect a child’s aptitude rather than reflect the child’s impaired skills
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Individualized Education Plan (IEP)
A written document that outlines academic goals, accommodations, modifications and services for students with disabilities.
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IEPs are written statements that are developed, reviewed and revised in a meeting and required to include:
Present levels of achievement to include how the child’s disability affects involvement and progress in general education curriculum
Measurable, annual goals designed to enable involvement and progress in the general education curriculum
Description on how progress will be measured and reported
Explanation if child is to be removed from nondisabled peers and the general education classroom
Individual, appropriate accommodations
Beginning date and frequency of services
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Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
A mandate that students with disabilities be educated in a regular classroom with nondisabled peers to the maximum extent possible.
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Schools must ensure that:
Children with disabilities are educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate
Removal of children with disabilities from the regular education class can occur only if education cannot be achieved satisfactorily in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services
States must not use a funding mechanism based on the type of setting a child is served in that will result in failure to provide FAPE according to the IEP
Students are not removed from a regular classroom solely for needing modifications to general education curriculum
IEP plans extend to nonacademic settings and extracurricular activities, for full participation across all school environments
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Parental Participation
The right for parents to be active participants in the disability evaluation process and the development of their child’s educational plan.
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Schools must ensure that parents:
Receive written notification of IEP meetings to include the topic of discussion and the team members expected to be present
Can attend and participate in scheduled IEP meetings
Have access to an interpreter if needed
Receive a copy of the IEP at no charge
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Procedural Safeguards
A set of processes designed to address conflict and support resolution in the delivery of special education and related services.
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States and school districts must establish, maintain and implement procedural safeguards that meet the requirements of IDEA, including:
Independent educational evaluations
Prior written notice
Parental consent
Access to education records
Opportunity to present and resolve complaints through due
process and state complaint procedures
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