Two laws, Section 504 of the Rehabilitaton Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), protect the rights of disabled individuals in public schools. Who is eligible for the services and protections offered by these laws? How is eligibility and extent of disability determined? Due process procedures and required accommodations and modifications in public schools are summarized.
Section 504 states that any institution (including colleges and universities) receiving Federal financial assistance may not discriminate against disabled persons. This article explains how this law affects the admission process, participation in class and curriculum. What modifications can postsecondary institutions make to better accommodate the disabled?
Every state defines who is eligible to receive special education and related services. Some states, such as Maryland, choose to define special education students using the same disability criteria as the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. However, not all states choose to follow this formula and many make their own “student with disabilities” definition. The state definition serves as a guide, along with specific disability definitions, for determining eligibility criteria when evaluating a child for inclusion in special education programs.
Parents and advocacy groups: What do you say when you talk to your state officials about high stakes tests and statewide education assessments? Read this article for questions you can ask to assess the full and fair inclusion of students with disabilities. Assure that they receive the accommodations they need to show what they know.
Charter schools have become a hot topic across the country, with the number of charters exploding in recent years. In this info brief, we examine the challenges and successes of special education in charter schools, including issues related to enrollment, legal identity, infrastructure, school choice, and virtual charters.
On May 21, 2007 The Supreme Court ruled in Winkelman v. Parma School District that parents could proceed in court without attorneys in IEP cases. Both parent and child have the right to have Free Appropriate Public Education provided to the child.
