This entry first discusses the legal standard for a free appropriate public education (FAPE) provided under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Section 504, and state laws. It then details the history and main principles of IDEA. Finally, the entry explains the components of FAPE and the process for determining whether a student qualifies for services.

The term free appropriate public education (FAPE) refers to the wide range of educational and related services that students with disabilities are entitled to receive from public schools under the IDEA. The IDEA requires that public school districts provide every qualifying student with a disability, ages 3 to 22, a uniquely tailored educational program, known as an individualized education program (IEP), and deliver the services a student requires in ...