With the passage of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, now the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and subsequent amendments, states and jurisdictions have made great strides in the provision of services to young children, ages 3 through 5 years, with disabilities. As of Fall 2009, America's…

This memorandum from the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) to state directors of special education presents questions and answers related to inclusion of students with disabilities in state and district-wide assessments under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997. The 26 questions and answers address…

Under the 1997 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments, all states must now include students with disabilities in statewide and districtwide educational assessments. So far, Kentucky is the only state with a comprehensive alternative portfolio-assessment program for students unable to participate in "regular" testing…

This monograph is intended to provide technical assistance for the implementation of the transition requirements of Public Law 105-17, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) of 1997. Following an introduction, individual sections present: (1) a description of the importance and intent of transition requirements for youth as they…

Building on the efforts of the ASPIIRE IDEA Partnership Paraprofessional Work Group convened under the leadership of the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA) in the spring of 1999, this report summarizes issues and themes identified at a June 2001, 1-day cross-partnership forum on paraprofessional issues relating to the implementation…

This paper synthesizes information from the March 2000 report, "Increasing the Participation of Special Needs Students in NAEP" (National Assessment of Educational Progress). Background information includes the development of the NAEP program since 1969 and the 1996 development of criteria to guide schools in deciding on the…

This report analyzes information received from 37 states and non-state jurisdictions related to the new provision in the 1997 Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires participation of general education teachers in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Analysis indicates: (1) 15 of the states…

Reviews the major substantive amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act being proposed by the U.S. Senate, including changes in state and local educational agency eligibility; least restrictive environment; private school placement; evaluations, reevaluations, and Individualized Education Programs; discipline procedures;…

This guide is designed to provide information on ensuring quality special education services and early intervention to building principals in elementary and middle schools. It sets forth standards of excellence that directly relate to implementing the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and presents guidelines for principals to use…

This document presents final regulations for the Assistance to States for Education of Children with Disabilities program under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA Part B) and the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities under Part C of the Act. These regulations are needed to implement changes made…

This document explains provisions of the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Public Law 105-17, and is divided into 16 topics, most of which address specific sections of the law. For each topic, the following is provided: overview information, additional information presented in a question and answer format,…