Individualized Education Program and Least Restrictive Environment, Placement in

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a groundbreaking federal statute that authorizes federal aid for the education of more than six million children with disabilities nationally. Passed by Congress as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) in 1975 and reauthorized in 1990 as IDEA, the legislation recognizes the right of all children, regardless of ability, to be educated in a free and appropriate manner within the public education system. Prior to the inception of IDEA, the majority of children with disabilities, including deaf children, lacked sufficient educational support and were poorly supported within the regular school system or were educated in segregated settings with little access to their nondisabled peers. IDEA established what are considered to be two main provisions used ...