Overview of Federal Legislation
Congress and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (passed in 1975, most recently reauthorized in 1997) is the main Federal law intended to support and improve early intervention and special education for infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities. The IDEA includes three formula grant programs that assist States to serve disabled children in different age ranges and a number of discretionary grant programs that support early intervention and special education research, demonstrations, technical assistance, and personnel training. The Office of Special Education Programs, U.S. Department of Education administers the programs of IDEA, with the exception of the family support program,…
