Law & Policy: Students with Disabilities
This page includes statutes, regulations and agency policies that directly relate to children with disabilities. A few more general laws that apply to all students are listed at the end, and others are listed in “law and policy” sections elsewhere on this website (for example, in the “School Improvement and NCLB” section). Court rulings and administrative decisions are also part of the body of law concerning children with disabilities.
Federal Laws, Regulations and Policies on the Education of Children with Disabilities
- IDEA – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 (July 1, 2005), 20 U.S.C. § 1400, et seq. (federal special education law)
- IDEA Regulations for school-age special education programs, 30 C.F.R. Parts 300 and 301 (in effect October 13, 2006)
- Amended IDEA Regulations (2008)
- IDEA Regulations for children with disabilities under age 3, 34 C.F.R. Part 303
- Office of Special Education Services Home Page (other federal guidance)
- Section 504 Regulations
PA Laws, Regulations and Policies on the Education of Children with Disabilities
- PA Infants and Toddlers Program regulations: 55 Pa. Code Ch. 4226
- PA Special Eduction Regulations for Pre-School and School-Age Children, 22 Pa. Code Chapter 14 and Federal IDEA Regulations, Side-by-Side
- PA Regulations for Protected Handicapped Children, 22 Pa. Code Chapter 15
- PA Regulations for Special Education for Gifted Students, 22 Pa. Code Chapter 16
- PA Regulations for Children with Disabilities in Charter Schools, 22 Pa. Code Chapter 711
- PA Department of Education Guidance (Basic Education Circulars)
- Opinions of Special Education Appeals Panel
- PA Special Education Dispute Resolution Manual (published by Office of Dispute Resolution; describes procedures for mediation, IEP facilitation, and "due process" hearings)
Pennsylvania Special Education and Early Intervention Forms
- School-Age Forms
- School-Age Forms in Other Languages (Albanian, Arabic, Chinese, Croatian, French, Italian, Khmer, Korean, Russian, Spanish, Vietnamese)
- Preschool Early Intervention Forms
- Infant/Toddler Early Intervention Forms
Related Laws, Regulations and Policies
- PA Enrollment and Attendance Regulations, 22 Pa. Code Chapter 11
- Parent Guide to Special Education in Charter Schools (PDE)
- PA Academic Standards and Assessment Regulations, 22 Pa. Code Chapter 4
- PA Assessment Anchors
- Family Education Right to Privacy Act (FERPA), 20 U.S.C. §1232g, and Implementing Regulations, 34 C.F.R. Part 99 (student records)
- Charter Schools
- English Language Learners
- Funding Schools Fairly
- Getting Information & Making Your Voice Heard
- Improving Schools
- Residency & Enrollment
- School Discipline & Alternative Education
- Students in Foster Homes, Juvenile Justice & Other Placements
- Students with Disabilities
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