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IDEA Questions and Answers
QuestionWhat do the words "free appropriate public education" (sometimes called FAPE) mean?
Answer FAPE is defined in the law as "special education and related services" which in turn is defined as an education:
provided at public expense to youth with disabilities
meeting the standards of the state including preschool, elementary and secondary school, based on decisions made by an Individual Educational Program (IEP) committee and documented in writing.
Question What are the rights of youth with disabilities and their parents?
Answer
The Supreme Court determined that a free public education is a property
right that is protected under our country's constitution. Among the rights
that youth with disabilities and their parents have are: the right to be
evaluated to see if the youth is eligible the right to be part of the evaluation
process the right to participate in deciding what is an appropriate education
the right to know about plans to change an education program and be part
of that planning the right to disagree about an appropriate education program
and to have an impartial judge hear both sides of the disagreement Youth
and parent rights are much more extensive than this summary list. You can
learn more about these rights by visiting the NICHCHY
Web site .
Question What does the term "related services" mean?
Answer The Federal regulations (rules) that apply to the IDEA define related services as "transportation and such other developmental, corrective, and other supportive services that are required for the youth with a disability to benefit from special education." Examples commonly given are: psychological services, physical therapy, audiology, diagnostic medical services, counseling services and transportation.
Question Who has responsibility for finding and evaluating youth that might have a disability?
Answer The school district has primary responsibility for finding, evaluating and determining eligibility of youth with disabilities.
Question If the student is not making progress reaching the goals of the IEP, who has responsibility for reconvening the IEP committee to redefine the appropriate educational program?
Answer The responsibility is shared. However, the school district has the ultimate responsibility to reconvene IEP teams to evaluate progress toward reaching individual instructional goals.
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