The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 (IDEA) offers some very needed federal assistance to those working to improve educational results for all children. Enacted on a strong bipartisan basis, it has significantly improved the educational opportunities for children with disabilities. The IDEA '97 focuses on teaching and learning, and establishing high expectations for disabled children to achieve educational results.

With IDEA '97, the focus has changed from one that merely provided disabled children access to an education to one that improves results for all children in our education system. The IDEA '97 strengthens the role of parents in educational planning and decision making on behalf of their children. It focuses the student's educational planning process on promoting meaningful access to the general curriculum. The new law also reduces the burden of paperwork for teachers and administrators.

22nd Annual Report to Congress

Statute (20 U.S.C. 1400 et seq.)

Regulations: Assistance for Education of All Children (34 C.F.R. Part 300)
Subpart A-General
Subpart B-State and Local Eligibility
Subpart C-Services
Subpart D-Children in Private Schools
Subpart E-Procedural Safeguards
Subpart F-State Administration
Subpart G-Allocation of Funds; Reports

Preschool Programs (34 C.F.R. Part 301)

OSEP's "A Guide to the Individualized Education Program"

IEP Questions and Answers

Discipline for Children with Disabilities

Obligations of public agencies in serving children with disabilities placed by their parents at private schools

Office of Special Education and Rehabilitation Services (OSERS)