This book examines schools' legal responsibility for providing equal educational opportunities for children with disabilities under the 1997 reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). First, an introduction to the American legal system and federal policy on disability is provided. Next, the six principles of special education law are analyzed: (1) zero reject, or the right of every child to be included in a free, appropriate, publicly supported educational system; (2) nondiscriminatory testing, placement, and classification; (3) individualized and appropriate education; (4) least restrictive appropriate educational placement; (5) procedural due process; and (6) parent participation and shared decision making. 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 answers those objections. It presents the pre-1997 provision of IDEA so that comparison can be made to the new law. Appendices include a discussion of three important court cases and their implications for the education of students with disabilities: Brown v. Board of Education, Southeastern Community College v. Davis, and Board v. Rowley. Reference notes accompany each chapter and a glossary of terms is included. (CR)