The purpose of this interview-based qualitative study was to explore how individualized education program (IEP) team members determine least restrictive environment and educational placement. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires students with disabilities to be educated in the least restrictive environment and to the…

In some instances, a local school district may determine that it cannot provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) for a student with a disability within their district. In partnership with the student's family and teachers, the district may decide that the student would be best served in a private school or facility better suited to meet…

This article begins by describing a scenario in which a fourth-grade learning disabled student's individualized education program (IEP) team came together to develop his IEP and in so doing made a number of procedural and substantive errors. The purpose of this article is to examine the procedural and substantive requirements of the Individuals…

The purpose of this article is to present an updated comprehensive synthesis of the law, starting with the statutory provisions and culminating in the case law specific to the procedural and substantive requirements for manifestation determinations (MDs) under IDEA, as amended in 2004. Procedural requirements include issues such as who must make…

Over the past forty years, schools across the United States have become more inclusive for students with disabilities. However, in many high-poverty urban school districts, a disproportionate number of minority children with disabilities are segregated from their non-disabled peers. This article presents findings from a qualitative case study of…

This report has been provided to the Legislature on an annual basis since the year 2000. This report is issued in the context of a change in focus for the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the federal agency which oversees the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) implementation in each state. OSEP's new accountability…

Bearing in mind the requirements of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, Louisiana's Steering Committee projected performance targets through the year 2014 for the important areas of: (1) Graduation with a Diploma; (2) Dropout Rate; (3) Placement, ages 6-21 and ages 3-5; (4) Achievement Performance Levels, and (5) Discipline. Annual gains were…

The author reviews the background and application of the least restrictive environment requirement of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Components of the least restrictive environment (LRE) principle are reviewed, and a distinction is made between LRE and mainstreaming. Implementation issues, including misinterpretations…

The author addresses the problems of P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) which hinder efforts to provide programs for handicapped students. Considered are problems in child identification, student placement, mainstreaming, individualized education programs, in-service education, and attitudes of teachers and…

This report has been provided to the Legislature on an annual basis since 2000 when the legislature amended the language of G.L. c. 71B to align Massachusetts special education terminology with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This year reports the context of a major change in the way state systems of special…

Intended as a practical guide, the handbook presents information on implementation issues of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The book is organized into two main sections: an overview of federal, state, and local responsibilities in special education, legislative…

During SY 2010-2011, the Bureau of Indian Education (BIE) continued their efforts to improve the validity and reliability of data reporting. BIE data collections are dependent on school level entry (self-reporting) into the Native American Student Information System (NASIS) or into the Bureau's Annual Report from the schools. In addition,…

Presented are the findings of a study to identify, analyze, and explain activities and consequences in nine local education agencies (LEAs) in three states as they implemented the major provisions of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Section I summarizes the background of the study and its major objectives. In Section…

The document reports findings on implementation of P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) in three local education agencies (LEAs) in State A, one of three states studied. An initial section discusses the conceptual model which was used to generate hypotheses, organize data, and analyze findings as LEAs implemented the major…

The document reports findings on implementation of P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) in three local education agencies (LEAs) in State B, one of three states studied. An initial section discusses the conceptual model which was used to generate hypotheses, organize data, and analyze findings as LEAs implemented the major…