IDEA is our nation's special education law. IDEA stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

The IDEA was originally enacted by Congress in 1975 to make sure that children with disabilities had the opportunity to receive a free appropriate public education, just like other children. The law has been revised many times over the years. The most recent amendments were passed by Congress in December 2004---yes, that recently! So, in some senses, the law is very new, even as it has a long, detailed, and powerful history.

IDEA guides how states and school districts provide special education and related services to more than six million eligible children with disabilities. Learn more about this important federal law here!
 

NEW! Connecticut Part B State Performance Plan on the Implementation of IDEA
 

Please Click Below to View Fact Sheets Related to IDEA 2004
View IDEA Fact Sheets
 

Regulations for IDEA 2004
You've no doubt heard that final regulations for IDEA 2004 have been published. They're only 307 pages long--- including the comments and analysis of changes. Pick up your copy of the regs (in PDF), at:
http://www.nichcy.org/reauth/IDEA2004regulations.pdf

What's The Same, What's Not?
The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) answers this question with its Topic Briefs prepared just for the new regulations. Hook up with available briefs at:
http://www.nichcy.org/idealist.htm
 

More on Comparing IDEA 2004 to IDEA 1997:

Visit NASDSE to order your copy of "The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: Comparison of IDEA Regulations August 3, 2006 to IDEA Regulations March 12, 1999." (NASDSE is the National Association of State Directors of Special Education.) This book goes section by section through the old and the new regulations, so you'll get your money's worth--- $15 for the treasure. You can order it today, using the order form at: http://www.nasdse.org/documents/SbSorderform.pdf
 

One-Stop IDEA Shopping!

The U.S. Department of Education is pleased to announce the launching of its dedicated Web site to provide a "one-stop shop" for resources related to IDEA 2004 and its implementing regulations. Here you will find the statute, regs, video clips on important topics, links to the toolkit we keep telling you about, a Q&A on IDEA, and more---ever more as time goes by. Visit! Bookmark! Where? Here:
http://idea.ed.gov