Zero Reject

Zero reject is one of the key principles of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), originally known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. IDEA requires states, through local educational agencies or school boards, to locate, evaluate, and serve all eligible students with disabilities aged 3 to 21. Zero reject mandates that school officials cannot exclude any students with disabilities from a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment. Pursuant to the contents of their individualized education programs, students with disabilities must be served at no cost to their families despite the nature or severity of their conditions or the potential of educational benefit. Further, school boards cannot cease services to students due to their expulsions, incarcerations, hospitalizations, or parental ...