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Federal Laws, Regulations and Policy Guidance

  1. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
  2. Section 504
  3. Federal Guidance on IDEA and Section 504
  4. Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)
  5. Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment (PPRA)

1. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, commonly referred to as “IDEA,” is a federal law that governs the how states and public agencies serve children with disabilities from birth to age 21. Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act addresses the education of school age students with disabilities. The primary purposes of Part B are to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment and independent living, and to ensure that the rights of children with disabilities and their parents are protected. States and local educational agencies receive funding through IDEA to help them accomplish these objectives.

In 2017, the United States Department of Education launched a “new and improved” Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) website. The new webiste promises improved site navigation and design; expanded search options; resources for specific audiences, including parents and families and educators/service providers; and expanded content with streamlined resources. The latter includes data reports and State Performance Plans/Annual Performance Reports as well as a list of frequently-used acronyms and terms.

IDEA Regulations

Two versions of the IDEA regulations are provided here. The first is the final version posted on the current government website. A second version published in the Federal Register, which also contains the final regulations, includes a detailed discussion of the changes in the regulations that followed the 2004 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It also has an analysis of the comments and questions that were received by the Department of Education when the regulations were initially proposed. The Department’s responses to the comments provide important insights about the agency’s interpretation of the law.

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), enacted in December 2015, amended IDEA in certain respects. The IDEA regulations were amended effective June 30, 2017 to reflect the changes. The amendments remove and revise certain IDEA definitions, update State eligibility requirements, and update relevant cross-references in the IDEA regulations to reflect the changes made by ESSA. This chart summarizes the changes in the final regulations.

Topical Information

Topical information and resources from the United States Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs and other federal agencies is available on the new federal IDEA website. Topics areas include: Accessibility – Instructional Materials; Assessment; Bullying; Charter Schools; Child Find Procedures; Discipline/Behavior Supports; English Learners with Disabilities; Evaluation and Reevaluation; Free Appropriate Public Education; Individualized Education Program; Least Restrictive Environment; Physical Education and Adapted Physical Education; Response to Intervention; Secondary Transition and Transportation.


2. Section 504

Section 504 is the “other” federal law that affects the education of students with disabilities. Section 504 prohibits all entities that receive federal funding, both public and private, from discriminating on the basis of disability. Section 504 can thus be thought of as the “civil rights” law for students with disabilities. Questions frequently arise about the relationship between Section 504 and IDEA and between Section 504 and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). As more fully explained in the following materials, Section 504 covers a broader population, but the protections provided are less specific than IDEA. Thus, Section 504 also covers children who are eligible for special education under IDEA, but the primary source of their rights is IDEA. Conversely, students with disabilities are a small subset of the population protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act, but the obligations imposed on public schools under Section 504 and the ADA are nearly identical. If you are confused – or just curious – about the relationship between IDEA, Section 504 and the ADA, the Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children with Disabilities is the place to start.

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 – Law and Implementing Regulations

Frequently Asked Questions About Section 504 and the Education of Children With Disabilities

Questions and Answers on the ADA Amendments Act of 2008 for Students with Disabilities Attending Public Elementary and Secondary Schools

In 2008, Congress amended the Americans with Disabilities Act. The amendments, which became effective on January 1, 2009, included what is called a “conforming amendment” to the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. This conforming amendment affects and broadly expands how the term “disability” is interpreted under Section 504. It also contains new examples of “major life activities.” While the United States Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights has been interpreting Section 504 consistent with the ADA amendments, the Section 504 regulations themselves were not changed. These two documents explain how the law is currently being implemented and how the ADA Amendments Act affects students with disabilities attending public elementary and secondary schools.

The Rehabilitation Act


3. Federal Guidance on IDEA and Section 504

Federal guidance addresses a wide range of issues related to the day-to-day implementation of IDEA and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. Guidance ranges from policy support documents such as memos, Dear Colleague Letters, and frequently asked questions to letters responding to questions posed by parents, educators and advocacy organizations.

Adapted physical education

Letter to Tymeson (April 2022)

ADHD

Dear Colleague Letter and Resource Guide on Students with ADHD, July 2016

Behavior supports

Dear Colleague Letter on Ensuring Equity and Providing Behavioral Supports to Students with Disabilities (August 2016)

A Summary for Stakeholders on Dear Colleague Letter on Supporting Behavior of Students with Disabilities (August 2016)

Supporting and Responding to Behavior:  Evidence-Based Classroom Strategies for Teachers

Bullying

Dear Colleague Letter on Bullying (July 2013)

Charter schools

Dear Colleague Letter on Rights of Students with Disabilities in Charter Schools (December 2016)

Frequently Asked Questions about the Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (December 2016)

Frequently Asked Questions about the Rights of Students with Disabilities in Public Charter Schools under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Know Your Rights: Students with Disabilities in Charter Schools (August 2016)

Dear Colleague Letter to State Education Agencies Regarding Oversight of Federal Funds to Charter Schools (September 2015)

Communication needs of students with hearing, vision or speech disabilities

Dear Colleague Letter on Meeting the Communication Needs of Students with Hearing, Vision or Speech Disabilities (November 2014)

Fact Sheet on Meeting the Communication Needs of Students with Hearing, Vision or Speech Disabilities (November 2014)

FAQs on Effective Communication for Students with Hearing, Vision or Speech Disabilities in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools (November 2014)

Compensatory Services (non-COVID)

Letter to Kane (compensatory/makeup services not required for services missed during assessments) (April 2018)

Confidentiality

Understanding the Confidentiality Requirements Applicable to IDEA Early Childhood Programs:  Frequently Asked Questions (October 2016)

Consent

Suggested Model for Written Notification of Parental Rights regarding Use of Public Benefits or Insurance (June 2013)

Non-Regulatory Guidance on the IDEA Part B Regulations Regarding Parental Consent for the Use of Public Benefits or Insurance (e.g., Medicaid) to Pay for Services Under Part B of IDEA (February 2013)

Letter to Gallo (Parent Consent Requirements for Functional Behavioral Assessments and Response to Intervention), April 2013

Correctional facilities

Dear Colleague Letter on Students with Disabilities in Correctional Facilities, December 2014

COVID-19-related issues

Providing Students with Disabilities Free Appropriate Public Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Addressing the Need for Compensatory Services Under Section 504

Return to School Roadmap: Development and Implementation of IEPs, Sept. 30, 2021

COVID-19 Materials for People with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities and Care Providers (via the CDC)

Return to School Roadmap: Child Find Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Aug. 24, 2021

Letter to Field on Return to School, Aug. 24, 2021

Long COVID under Section 504 and IDEA, July 26, 2021

COVID Recovery Programming for Students with Disabilities

Compensatory Services for Students with Disabilities as a Result of the COVID-19 Pandemic

Federal & state guidance from the 2020-21 school year

Letter to Educators and Parents Regarding New CDC Recommendations and Their Impact on Students with Disabilities (March 2022)

Letter to Wolfram and Mandlawitz (January 2022)

Discipline Procedures

Dear Colleague Letter on Implementation of IDEA Discipline Provisions (July 19, 2022)

Positive, Proactive Approaches to Supporting Children with Disabilities: A Guide for Stakeholders (July 19, 2022)

Questions and Answers: Addressing the Needs of Children with Disabilities and IDEA’s Discipline Provisions  (July 19, 2022)

Supporting Students with Disabilities and Avoiding the Discriminatory Use of Student Discipline under Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (July 19, 2022)

Letter to Nathan (MDR requirement for students who have not yet been evaluated) (January 2019)

Dispute resolution procedures

Dear Colleague Letter on Use of Due Process Procedures After a Parent has Filed a State Complaint, April 2016

Questions and Answers about Dispute Resolution Procedures under Part B of IDEA, July 2013

Dyslexia

Dear Colleague Letter on Dyslexia, October 2015

English language learners with disabilities

Letter to Boals (policy guidance and resources for IEPs and services for ELLs with disabilities) (November 2021)

Addressing English Learners with Disabilities, 2015 and updated to reflect Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) (Chapter 6 of English Learner Toolkit)

Addendum to Questions and Answers on Inclusion of English Learners with Disabilities in English Language Proficiency Assessments and Title III Annual Measurable Achievement Objectives, October 2014

Dear Colleague Letter on IEP Translation, June 2016

Evaluations

Letter to Anonymous (student participation and timeframe for providing evaluation reports) (September 9, 2019)

Letter to Anonymous (classroom observations by independent evaluators) (August 2018)

Letter to Delisle re: Students with Disabilities with High Cognition, April 2015

Questions and Answers on Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), Evaluations, and Reevaluations, Revised September 2011

FAPE and academic content standards

Questions and Answers (Q&A) on U. S. Supreme Court Case Decision Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District Re-1

Dear Colleague Letter on Free Appropriate Public Education and Alignment with Grade Level State Academic Content Standards, November 2015

Hearing impairments: eligibility

Letter to Blodgett re: Students with Hearing Loss that Has Been Medically or Surgically Corrected, November 2014

Highly mobile and homeless students

Questions and Answers on High Quality Education for Highly Mobile Children, July 2013

IEP Teams

Letter to Haller (attendance of non-participating observers at IEP team meetings) (May 2019)

Letter to Andel re: Participation of Parent’s Attorney at IEP Team Meeting, February 2016

Independent Educational Evaluations

Letter to Anonymous (request for independent educational evaluation does not trigger pendency) (June 2018)

Letter to Carroll re: Independent Educational Evaluations

Medicaid

Suggested Model for Written Notification of Parental Rights regarding Use of Public Benefits or Insurance, June 2013

Non-Regulatory Guidance on the IDEA Part B Regulations Regarding Parental Consent for the Use of Public Benefits or Insurance (e.g., Medicaid) to Pay for Services Under Part B of IDEA, February 2013

Postsecondary Opportunities

Increasing Postsecondary Opportunities and Success for Students and Youth with Disabilities (September 2019)

Preschool

Letter to Rowland (special day programs with prescribed service menu) (September 2019)

Dear Colleague Letter on Preschool Least Restrictive Environment, January 2017

Response to Intervention and Preschool Services, April 2016

Joint Policy Statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs, September 2015

Executive Summary of Joint Policy Statement, September 2015

Response to Intervention

Response to Intervention (RTI) Process Cannot Be Used to Delay-Deny an Evaluation for Eligibility under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, July 2011

Specific learning disabilities

Letter to Unnerstall re: Evaluation for Specific Learning Disabilities

Dear Colleague Letter on Use of Dyslexia, Dyscalculia and Dysgraphia in IEP Process, October 2015

OSEP Memo on Letter to Delisle: Children with Disabilities with High Cognition, April 2015

Letter to Delisle re: Children with High Cognition and Learning Disabilities (“2E Students), December 2013

Speech and language services

Dear Colleague Letter on Speech and Language Services for Students with Autism, July 2015

State Complaints

Letter to Zirkel (July 2019)

Letter to Zirkel (May 2019)

Letter to Lipsitt (remedial authority of SEA) (April 2018)

Transition

Letter to Olex (consent not generally required for transition assessments) (February 2019)

A Transition Guide to Postsecondary Education and Employment for Students and Youth with Disabilities, May 2017

Transportation

Questions and Answers on Serving Children with disabilities Eligible for Transportation, November 2013

Visual Impairments: Eligibility

Eligibility Determinations for Children Suspected of Having a Visual Impairment Including Blindness under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, May 2017

Dear Colleague Letter on Braille Instruction for Blind and Visually Impaired Students, June 2013

4. Family Education Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA)

The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) is a federal law that prohibits improper disclosure of personally identifiable information derived from student records. FERPA also addresses access to student records, parental right to inspect and review records, amendment of records and destruction of records. FERPA applies to all educational agencies and institutions that receive federal funds.

While FERPA generally requires consent of the parent or eligible student before disclosing personally identifiable information from an eligible students education records, there are a number of important exceptions to this requirement. One exception allows “school officials,” including teachers, within a school to obtain access to personally identifiable information in education records of students if the school has determined they have a “legitimate educational interest” in the information. A “school official” has a “legitimate educational interest” if the official needs to review an education record in order to fulfill a professional responsibility. Schools may also disclose “directory information" such as a student’s name, address telephone number and dates of attendance without consent. However, they must tell parents and eligible students what they consider “directory information” and provide them a reasonable amount of time to request that the school not disclose directory information about them.

The U. S. Department of Education’s Protecting Student Privacy website addresses a wide range of issues related to student privacy. The website provides access to information on student privacy issues for various audiences, e.g., K-12 School Officials, Parents & Students, and Early Childhood Educators and allows users to select the topics they are interested in as well as the type of resource they are looking for.

Chancellor’s Regulation A-820, Confidentiality and Release of Student Records, Records Retention incorporates and implements the FERPA requirements as well as New York State records retention mandates.

FERPA and IDEA Confidentiality Provisions – Crosswalk

FERPA Regulations

The FERPA regulations, which are written in a question and answer format, are the easiest way to access information about the law and how it is applied to schools.

Joint Guidance on the Application of the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) and the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPA) to Student Health Records — This document addresses the confusion on the part of school administrators, health care professionals, and others as to how these two statutes apply to records maintained on students. Importantly, this guidance clarifies that the HIPPA Privacy Rule generally does not apply to elementary and secondary schools. It also addresses certain disclosures that are allowed without consent or authorization under both laws, especially those related to health and safety emergencies.

Letter to Wachter (Access to Surveillance Video and Witness Statements Regarding Hazing Incident Involving Multiple Students), December 2017


4. Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment

The PPRA governs the administration to students of a survey, analysis, or evaluation that concerns one or more of the following eight protected areas:

  • political affiliations or beliefs of the student or the student’s parent;
  • mental or psychological problems of the student or the student’s family;
  • sex behavior or attitudes;
  • illegal, anti-social, self-incriminating, or demeaning behavior;
  • critical appraisals of other individuals with whom respondents have close family relationships;
  • legally recognized privileged or analogous relationships, such as those of lawyers, physicians, and ministers;
  • religious practices, affiliations, or beliefs of the student or student’s parent; or,
  • income (other than that required by law to determine eligibility for participation in a program or for receiving financial assistance under such program).

Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment including Model Notice of Rights and Model Consent Opt Out for Specific Activities

What is the Protection of Pupil Rights Amendment?