Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 “strengthens academic expectations and accountability for the nation’s 5.8 million children with disabilities and bridges the gap that has too often existed between what children with disabilities learn and what is required in regular curriculum” (U.S. Department of Education). Check these sites for more information.

FAPE (Family & Advocates Partnership for Education): Coordinated by the Minnesota-based Pacer Center, FAPE is “a new project which aims to inform and educate families and advocates about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 and promising practices.” The FAPE web site includes a tri-lingual newsletter, IDEA information and legislation, promising practices, technical assistance, culturally diverse material, self-advocacy information, and much more.

IDEA Amendments of 1997: This New Digest from the National Information Center on Children and Youth with Disabilities features an overview of the major changes to the IDEA, as well as a detailed, point-by-point look at the law. Information is presented in a side-by-side analysis, with portions of the “old” IDEA’s requirements presented next to the “new” IDEA’s requirements.

IDEA ’97 – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997: This Department of Education/OSERS web site includes general information about IDEA ’97, the full text of the law and regulations, and related articles, speeches, updates and other documents.
Ideapractices: Developed and maintained by Education Development Center, Inc. (EDC), this web site is designed to provide service providers and local administrators with information and support for IDEA-related concerns, issues, and strategies that work. The fact- and idea- filled sections include ideaCENTRAL, ideaLAW, ideaQUESTS, ideaPARTNERS, ideaDEPOT, ideaWORKS, and ideaLINKS.

Summary of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of 1997: Part of the Council for Exceptional Children web site, this section offers handy summaries of each part of the IDEA Amendments.

Related Subjects: Education; Inclusion; Individualized Education Plans (IEP); Resources in your state