Special Education Laws-

Pl-94-142 and IDEA

Jessica Hood
Intro to elementary education
April 4, 2017
What is Special Education ?

• Specially designed instruction to meet the unique

needs of an individual recognized as exceptional.

• Also refers to “ Services and supports that

teachers provide to meet the needs of students
who are identified with disabilities”
Special Education Laws

• Education for All Handicapped Children Act

(Public Law 94-142)
-
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

• Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities

Education Act (IDEA 97)
Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public
Law 94-142)

• (1975)

• This act guaranteed to all children with special

needs a free and appropriate public education.
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

• (1990)
• PL-94-142 was replaced
• Extended the availability of a free, appropriate
education in youth with special needs between
ages 3 and 21.
•
Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA 97)

• (1997)
• Amendments were passed
• Reauthorized in 2004, went beyond IDEA’s focus
on public school access for students with special
needs to emphasize educational outcomes,
modified eligibility requirements, IEP guidelines,
public and private placements, students
discipline guidelines and procedural safeguards.
Video

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=66g6TbJbs2g
Response to Intervention (RTI)

• Prior to IDEA 2004, the criterion of “Unexpected

underachievement” was used to identify students with learning
disabilities.

• Ensures students who are not making enough progress, and

students at risk of having disabilities, receive more thorough
instructions and teaching
Video

• https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BHOaQcX5gX0
Individualized Education Program (IEP)

• Every student with a disability must have an IEP that meets the
child’s needs and specifies educational goals and methods for
achieving those goals.

• Every year, the IEP must be reviewed by the student, their parent
or guardian, a teacher, a professional who has evaluated the
student, and a principal or special education resource person from
the school district.
Related Services

• IDEA 97 ensures students will receive any services that help them
benefit from their disabilities

• These benefits vary from occupational or physical therapy, audio

logical services, counseling, rehabilitation counseling, social work
services, parent counseling, medical services, transportation and
many other services
Confidentiality and Due Process

• The records of the children are completely confidential, and can

only be looked at with the permission of the child’s parent.

• The child’s records can also be altered if the parent feels the
records are inaccurate, misleading, or violating the child’s rights

• Parent’s also have the right to disagree with the evaluation of the
child
Inclusion

• Inclusion is defined as having every student be a part of the

classroom working with all the other students.

• IDEA suggest an effort must be made to include all students in the

classroom

• It is not specified how far schools should go to meet these

requirements
Inclusion Debate

• Should students with disabilities be placed in general education

classrooms if they cannot do the work?

• This would apply to ALL disabilities, not just minor ones

• This would also affect the children who should be placed in

general education
 ASSESSMNT

1. What is special education?

2. What was Education for All Handicapped Children Act (Public
Law 94-142)
3. What does RTI stand for?
4. Who must review an IEP?
5. The records of the children are completely confidential?
True or False
 References

• IDEA—the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, A legacy resource

from NICHCY, www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/idea/. Accessed 3
Apr. 2017.
• RTIactionnetwork, The National Center for Learning Disabilities, Inc,
www.rtinetwork.org/learn/what/whatisrti. Accessed 1 Apr. 2017.
• understandngsecialeducation.com,
www.understandingspecialeducation.com/IEP-law.html. Accessed 1 Apr.
2017.