Overview of Coverage

Some commonly referenced laws pertaining to education are explained below.

 

IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act​):

Children with disabilities are entitled to a “Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the “Least Restrictive Environment” (LRE) in public school systems. Evaluations determining the aids children recieve in school are conducted at the school district's expense, and attorney’s fees are available to represent parents to challenge these school district hearings for free. Under IDEA, each student is entitled to an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) in which, in theory, parents and the educational “team” are equal partners in deciding the supports their child is offered.

 

Under IDEA, schools must provide students with an education plan “reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child’s circumstances”.

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Section 504:

This act protects the rights of students with other kinds of disabilities (that are not encompassed by IDEA). Section 504 applies broadly to programs and activities that receive federal funding and it is especially important for post-secondary education because that does not fall under IDEA. It has less robust "safeguards" than IDEA since no IEP is required under Section 504.