IDEA Impacted on the American Education System:

Fall 2013 Special Education 100 IDEA Essay

Cassandra Schroeder
Dakota State University

IDEA IMPACTED ON THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

Table of Content
Abstract ..................................................................................................................... 2
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ................................................................. 3
Research Topic ................................................................................................. 3
Research Question ............................................................................................ 3
Participants ...................................................................................................... 3
Impact ......................................................................................................................... 4
Methods ........................................................................................................... 4
Results.............................................................................................................. 5
Data Analysis .................................................................................................... 6
Conclusion .................................................................................................................. 6
Reference .................................................................................................................... 8

IDEA IMPACTED ON THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

Abstract
Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) was created by Congress to enhance the
accountability and effectiveness of education for children with disabilities. This research paper
will enlighten how IDEA impacted the American education system, educators roles within the
system, and the lives of individuals with disabilities. The IDEA affects children with disabilities,
children without disabilities, parents, and educators. Congress made an outline on how to use
IDEA effectively in an educational institution. The country has seen an appropriate and effective
usage of IDEA, especially with Congress reevaluating the Public Law 94-142 for IDEA every
few years. IDEA helps educational institutions succeed with an organized and effective
education.

IDEA IMPACTED ON THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

Research Topic
According to Hewards investigation, Hewards found the following definition to be the
official definition for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):
The federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), to receive special
education and related services, a child must be identified as having a disability (i.e.,
labeled) and, in most cases, further classified into one of the states categories, such as
learning disabilities or orthopedic impairments (Heward, 2013, p. 10).
Labeling and classifying children is determined through complex issues involving emotional,
political, and ethical considerations in addition to scientific, fiscal, and educational interest
(Heward, 2013, p. 10).
Research Question
Explain how the components of Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have
impacted the American education system, educators roles within that system, and the lives of
individuals with disabilities.
Participants
Children with disabilities and children without disabilities are effected the most from the
Individual with Disability Education Act (IDEA). There are principles that lay out the foundation
of the IDEA for children with and without disability(s) that can benefit an education through
appropriate education tools, atmospheres, and support. Parents are also affected by the IDEA;
parents are allowed input and have to be taken into consideration on any decisions of the child
with disabilities education. The IDEA was laid out for the educators to have a concept and
format to follow to provide an appropriate education for all children of disabilities. The teachers

IDEA IMPACTED ON THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

gain organized strategies to incorporate children with disabilities within the education program
and have other teacher(s) and parent(s) input for making final judgment on decisions.
Impact
Methods
There are six principles on how the Individual with Disability Education Act (IDEA)
operates: Zero Reject, Nondiscriminatory Evaluation, Free Appropriate Public Education, Least
Restrictive Environment, Procedural Safeguards, and Parent Participation and Shared Decision
Making. These principles make the foundation for the IDEA to be appropriate for children with
any form of disability.
Zero Rejection (also known as the child find system) contains all children of disabilities
between the age of birth to twenty-one. No free public education cannot deny any child with a
disability; the school is responsible for locating, identifying, and evaluating all children
(Heward, 2013, p. 16). Nondiscriminatory Evaluation (also known as protection in evaluation
procedures) contains the schools responsibility of the use multifactor methods to depict if a child
has a disability and if the child is appropriately eligible for special designed instruction to
benefit from education (Heward, 2013, p. 17). Education institutions must make sure that
during the evaluation there is no discriminate on the basis of race, culture, or native language
(Heward, 2013, p. 17). Free Appropriate Public Education ensures that all children with
disabilities are allowed service of a free education that is paid through the public expenses.
Along with the free education the children with disabilities are entitled to an appropriate IEP that
is laid out of the specific needs of the children with disabilities. Least Restrictive Environment is
responsible to educate children with disabilities and without disabilities to the maximum extent
of education. Along with the intellectual education the students with disabilities cannot be

IDEA IMPACTED ON THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

removed to separate classes or schools unless the nature or severity of their disabilities is
interfering of the appropriate education in a general education classroom with supplementary
aids and services (Heward, 2013, p. 19). Procedural Safeguards enables the protection of the
children with disabilities and the parents of these children of rights and interest to the education
of children with disabilities. A due process hearing will come into play if a parent is unsatisfied
with the schools evaluation performance and then can obtain an independent evaluation at
public expense (Heward, 2013, p. 19). Parent Participation and Shared Decision Making entitles
the parents to collaborate the planning and implementation of special education and related
services (Heward, 2013, p. 20) to the child with disability(s). The parent(s) input and wishes
must be considered in determining IEP goals, related-service needs, and placement decisions
(Heward, 2013, p. 20).
Results
The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) was created to help children in a learning
education. There are four purposes for the IDEA. Purpose one is to make sure that all children
with disabilities has access to a free public education with special education to meet the
appropriate education to help children with disabilities for further education, employment, and
independent living (Heward, 2013, p. 16). Along with furthering a childs enhancement of life
skills, the children with disabilities and the parents of these children are protected of the rights
granted for education through the states, localities, educational service agencies, and Federal
agencies (Heward, 2013, p. 16). Purpose two is dedicated to make sure that the states are
implementation of a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency
system (Heward, 2013, p. 16) for infants, toddlers, and families with a disability child(s).
Purpose three entitles the necessary tools for educators and parents to improve a childs

IDEA IMPACTED ON THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

educational results. Coordinated technical assistance, dissemination, and support through

technology development and media services (Heward, 2013, p. 16) are the tools that educators
and parents use to enhance a child with disabilities education. Purpose four is produced to
assess and ensure the effectiveness and efforts to educate children with disabilities (Heward,
2013, p. 16).
Data Analysis
In 1975, Congress passed Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped
Children Act (Heward, 2013, p. 16).This law changed the whole outlook on education. Public
Law 94-142 has been reevaluated five times; the 1990 amendments renamed the law the
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (Heward, 2013, p. 16). However, in 2004
the act was reevaluated into the Public Law 108-466, The Individuals with Disabilities Education
Improvement Act (IDEA).
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was created to ensure individuals
with disabilities are treated with the same rights and privileges as other citizens without
disabilities. IDEA exerts a profound influence on what takes place in every school building in
the country and has changed the roles and responsibilities of general and special educators,
school administrators, parents, and students with disabilities in the educational process
(Heward, 2013, p. 16).
Conclusion
Congress saw an appropriate way to strengthen and expand the quality of education,
especially special education. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is gearing to
ensure children with disabilities the most affective and beneficial education from education
institutions. The IDEA changed the face of education for students and special education.

IDEA IMPACTED ON THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

Education was enhanced in availability and affective learning for all students. Students are
allowed a free education that targets a maximum learning education of intelligence, life skills,
and much more. IDEA was a huge impact on the American education and created a stable and
effective layout for educators to teach and all students to learn.

IDEA IMPACTED ON THE AMERICAN EDUCATION SYSTEM

References

Heward, W. L. (2013). Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special education. New

Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.