This book examines schools' legal responsibility for providing equal educational opportunities for children with disabilities. It analyzes the six principles of special education law: (1) zero reject, or the right of every child to be included in a free appropriate publicly supported educational system; (2) nondiscriminatory classification; (3) individualized and appropriate education; (4) least restrictive placement; (5) due process; and (6) parent participation. Methods of enforcing the law, through case law techniques and statutory techniques, are then discussed. The book also presents common objections to the six legal principles, and attempts to answer those objections on two major grounds: the beliefs that support the principles, and the system of values that undergirds the principles. The book discusses the 1990 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA--formerly known as the Education of the Handicapped Act) and the Americans with Disabilities Act. It also discusses all of the major cases interpreting the federal special education law, through the middle of 1992. The book concludes with examinations of four specific court cases: Brown v. Board of Education, Southeastern Community College v. Davis, Board v. Rowley, and Irving ISD v. Tatro. A glossary, a table of cases, a case index, and an index are appended. Reference notes accompany each chapter. (JDD)