To provide a missing piece to the legal foundation of professional development and practice for the individualized education program (IEP) process, the authors report the results of a comprehensive systematic analysis of court decisions specific to IEP-related procedural violations after the 2004 amendments of the Individuals With Disabilities…

This article examines a critical question for the special education community: What should be the current meaning of "free appropriate public education" (FAPE) in light of not only the Supreme Court's landmark "Rowley" decision in 1982 but also developments in the 30 years since then? After synthesizing what the…

Among findings of a study involving families of nine handicapped children (6-11 years old) were that districts have expanded the evaluation and planning process for students, with a broader base of evaluation information taken into account, and that aspects of the least restrictive environment remain problematic. (CL)

The article summarizes the status of implementation of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, in terms of numbers served; services (for students five years old and under, secondary and postsecondary aged, and institutionalized and previously institutionalized); personnel; least restrictive environment; procedural safeguards;…

Analysis of 43 states' practices in involving parents in monitoring the appropriateness of educational services (as suggested in the regulations for P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act), revealed that parents have little direct involvement in the monitoring process. Training can help parents assume a larger role. (CL)

Throughout the course of litigation (Frederick L. v. Thomas) the federal court has served as mediator in effecting sweeping changes in programs for learning disabled students. These changes have provided for special education of the learning disabled from school entry to age 21 and include provision for equal access to vocational training for…

During the Spring of 1980, a survey was conducted to determine the extent to which a sample of 153 handicapped migrant children were identified as being handicapped--and had individualized education programs (IEPs) prepared for them--by schools in which they were enrolled from January 1978 through June 1979. (Author)

Reviews Congress's annual report on the implementation of P.L. 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, and notes questions of local practitioners regarding numbers of students served, personnel, least restrictive environment, procedural safeguards, evaluation, fiscal and technical assistance, and procedural changes. Concludes that…

Responses of 44 states to a survey on definitions of the preschool handicapped population are provided. Findings indicated that only seven states had a definition for preschool handicapped, 43 percent had no current guidelines or intent to comply with requirements of Public Law 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act), and 32…

The procedural history and the implications of the Appeals' Court decision in Armstrong v Kline, in which Pennsylvania was found in violation of federal law by restricting special education services to 180 days, are discussed. (CL)

Pennsylvania's director of special education asserts that P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) is not the proper vehicle for implementing free appropriate human services to all handicapped children and their families. (Author/CL)

The role of Jose P. v. Ambach, a class action lawsuit involving the rights of handicapped students to be referred, evaluated, and placed in a timely fashion into appropriate educational programs and services in the New York City public schools, in structuring the delivery of special education services is discussed. (Author/CL)

Data from 45 state special education directors describe current attempts by states to comply with Public Law 94-142 mandates for assigning surrogate parents. findings showed that eight states used a media campaign to inform the public of the need for surrogate parents and 12 states have identified a pool of individuals to serve as surrogate…

A rationale is provided for integrating steps that are necessary both in minimum competency testing programs and in the process required under Public Law 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) for developing individualized education programs for handicapped children. (Author)

This review of case law on aversive interventions for students with disabilities identifies legal boundaries and protections for students in five categories: electric shock, noxious substances, corporal punishment, restraints, and timeout. It finds that, despite the emergence of positive interventions, qualified support for aversive interventions…