10 Jul 2018
Report

Fulfilling the Promise of IDEA

Image: Boy in wheelchair at deskIn the 40+ years since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was enacted, the law has changed the landscape for students with disabilities by opening the doors to public education, creating more inclusive classrooms, and holding schools accountable for results.

In April 2018, AIR convened a working meeting of special education experts and stakeholders to consider the challenges and opportunities for strengthening special education services and improving student outcomes. The report of the meeting highlights a recent U.S. Supreme Court ruling, empirically validated interventions and the prospect of IDEA reauthorization as incentives for renewing the promise of IDEA.  

Related Work

11 Dec 2015
Blog Post

Forty Years Later, IDEA Still Seeks Success for Students with Disabilities

Forty years ago, President Gerald Ford signed the Education of All Handicapped Children’s Act, now known as IDEA: the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Three waves of legislative reform since then have continued to strengthen access and emphasize academic success for all students. In this blog post, AIR expert Louis Danielson discusses the law's evolution and its continued commitment to greater educational accountability, inclusion, and quality for all students.
Topic: 
Disability and Rehabilitation, Education, Special Education

Further Reading