IDEA

IDEA is our nation's special education law. IDEA stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The IDEA was originally enacted by Congress in 1975 to make sure that children with disabilities had the opportunity to receive a free appropriate public education, just like other children. The law has been revised many times over the years. The most recent amendments were passed by Congress in December 2004, with final regulations published in August 2006. So, in some senses, the law is very new, even as it has a long, detailed, and powerful history.

IDEA guides how states and school districts provide special education and related services to more than six million eligible children with disabilities. Learn more about this important federal law here.

News
Read all about the recent reauthorization of IDEA.

The Law
Read the statute passed by Congress in December 2004.

Regulations
Final regulations for IDEA 2004 were published in August 2006.

NICHCY Connections to...Resources on IDEA 2004
Find summaries and insight into what's new, what's the same, what it all means.

OSEP-Reviewed Materials on IDEA 2004
These publications and products have reviewed by the Office of Special Education Programs to assure their consistency with the IDEA 2004 statute.

OSEP-Reviewed Materials on IDEA 1997
These publications and products have reviewed by the Office of Special Education Programs to assure their consistency with IDEA '97 regulations. Because the 1997 version of the law has been amended, they are no longer completely authoritative sources on the law. We will continue to offer this list for the moment, however, because it is a rich source of information.

Training Materials on IDEA
NICHCY is pleased to offer training modules on IDEA 2004--PowerPoint slide shows, handouts, resources for trainers--help yourself!

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