In 1975, Congress first recognized the need to provide a federal law to help ensure that local schools would serve the educational needs of students with disabilities. The law they originally passed was titled the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. That first special education law has undergone several updates over the past 30 years. In 1990 the law got a new name - The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA. The most recent version of IDEA was passed by Congress in 2004. It can be referred to as either IDEA 2004 or IDEA.
IDEA gives states federal funds to help make special education services available for students with disabilities. It also provides very specific requirements to ensure a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities. FAPE is the protected right of every eligible child, in all 50 states and U.S. territories.
Today, more than six million school-age children in the United States receive special education services. Almost half - some 2.8 million - are students identified with a specific learning disability.
Federal Regulations
In addition to the federal law passed by Congress, the U.S. Department of Education is required to provide states with federal regulations that further define the meaning of the law including many of the important changes. These regulations also provide guidance to states as to how the law is to be interpreted and carried out in schools. Final federal regulations were published in August of 2006 and became effective on October 13, 2006.
Information in this guide is based on both the IDEA 2004 law and regulations.
State Special Education Regulations
As part of their responsibilities required by IDEA, every state must issue state rules or regulations that provide guidance on the implementation of IDEA within the state. At a minimum, state regulations must provide all of the protections contained in IDEA. Some states have additional regulatory requirements that go beyond IDEA. Therefore, while the information in this guide reflects the basic requirements of IDEA, it is critical that parents obtain a copy of their state special education regulations and understand the additional requirements they contain. So, consider the information in this guide only half of your information source.
State Resources
Parents are urged to keep in close contact with resources that can provide them with accurate and up-to-date information about their state's special education regulations and procedures. Recommended resources include:
Parent Training and Information Centers. Every state has at least one Parent Training and Information Center (PTI). These centers are a required part of IDEA. Their primary purpose is to provide parents with timely information about special education, including state specific information, so that they may participate effectively in meeting the educational needs of their children. In addition to the PTI, many states also have Community Parent Resource Centers (CPRC) that are designed to serve the needs of low-income parents, parents of children with limited English proficiency and parents with disabilities. Locate your PTI and CPRC here.
State Education Departments. Every state has an agency responsible for the supervision of public education. Many states offer handbooks or guides to help parents understand special education state policies and procedures. Be sure to check with your state's education department for helpful information and resources. Complete information on contacting your state's education department is available here.
Using this Guide
This Parent Guide is designed to give you a brief yet helpful understanding of IDEA 2004. It provides basic information on the most important aspects of the law and also highlights major changes contained in IDEA 2004.
When you see the 'NEW' icon, it indicates a change or new provision made in the most recent update to IDEA.
This guide takes you through the special education process - a process that is the same regardless of your child’s particular difficulties or disabilities. Along the way, special emphasis is placed on the category of specific learning disability - only one of the thirteen disability categories defined by IDEA.
Terms: important words and terms that are listed at the beginning of each chapter. A complete listing is available in the Terms to Know section.
Tools:helpful information and practical materials for parents such as Checklists, Sample Letters, Charts, and Questions to Ask. These user-friendly aids are also available in the IDEA Toolkit.
Throughout this guide, these important terms are used:
Parent. The term "parent" is used to refer to a natural or adoptive parent, an individual acting in place of a natural or adoptive parent (such as a grandparent), a foster parent, a guardian or a surrogate parent.
School district. The terms "school district" and "school" are used interchangeably to refer to the entity that has legal authority, control and responsibility for public education in a city, county, town (or combination of these), or other subdivision of a state. Depending on the size of your school and school district, you might find yourself dealing with someone at your local school or at a district-level office regarding special education matters.
Special education. The term "special education" means specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability. Depending on your child's needs as well as the state, school district and local school policies, special education services may be offered in a variety of ways and in a variety of settings.
Some quick tips before starting out:
Get organized. You will need to organize your child’s educational records in order to work effectively with school personnel. Throughout this guide you will find helpful tips on the records you need to maintain.
Ask questions. Don't be afraid to ask, ask and ask again. Understanding the special education process will help you to be the best advocate for your child. Take full advantage of all the resources and information available to you.
Network. Find local organizations that will offer you the opportunity to talk with other parents who have children receiving special education. The local policies and practices of your local school district are a big part of what you will experience. The people who make important decisions about those policies and practices are important to know, too. So finding other parents to talk to and learn from is critical to your advocacy. Local or state chapters of disability-related organizations and your local PTA or other parent-teacher organization are just a few places to start.
Remember: Regardless of where you might be in the special education process, it's best to read this guide from beginning to end. That way, you'll gain an understanding of the process and how all its pieces fit together.
Also, remember that this guide was created to provide a basic understanding of the key requirements of IDEA. The information presented in the IDEA Parent Guide is not legal advice and should not be used as a legal resource.
Parent Perspective: Success is Sweet: A Story of Parent Advocacy Anne from Colorado tells of her successful advocacy efforts on behalf of students with LD. Click the play button at right to listen or read the transcript.
NCLD invites you to a holiday celebration for you and your child — "LD Up Close: A celebration of the creativity of children with LD and their artwork."
Parent Center 
When you see the 'NEW' icon, it indicates a change or new provision made in the most recent update to IDEA.
This guide takes you through the special education process - a process that is the same regardless of your child’s particular difficulties or disabilities. Along the way, special emphasis is placed on the category of specific learning disability - only one of the 
