On December 3, 2004, the President signed the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act into law. Most provisions in the new law take effect on July 1, 2005.

IDEA 2004: Law

we encourage you to download and print this publication and attach it to your book.

Download IDEA 2004: Overview, Explanation & Comparison (56 pages)

Download the full text of IDEA 2004 (162 pages)

IDEA 2004: Guidance from USDOE

Changes in IDEA 2004: Documents from OSEP - Since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 takes effect on July 1, 2005, the U. S. Department of Education is publishing documents about changes in IDEA 2004. Each document focuses on a specific topic (IEPs, assessments, discipline, etc.) List of documents

Articles

How Will IEPs Change Under IDEA 2004? New language in IDEA designed to ensure that children with disabilities are taught by highly qualified teachers and receive research based instruction. This article focuses on new requirements for personnel training, IEPs, and scientifically based instruction.

IDEA 2004: IEP Team Members & IEP Team Attendance - Learn about IEP team members and IEP team attendance, when team members may be excused from a meeting, and what parents and the school district must do before a team member may be excused.

IDEA 2004 Regulations: Questions & Answers. Since the IDEA 2004 regulations will not be published until late 2005 or early 2006, how will the law be implemented? The Council of Parent Attorneys & Advocates has answers.

Requirements for Highly Qualified Special Ed Teachers - Learn about new requirements for special ed teachers; limits of what teachers who are not highly qualified may do; how teachers can demonstrate their competence.

Rule 11 & Attorneys Fees - Many parents and their advocates have expressed concerns about the “new” attorney fee statute in IDEA 2004 permitting school districts to recover fees from attorneys who represent parents. Pete analyzes these new provisions, improper litigation, frivolous actions, and the practical implications of this new statute.

Transition Services for Education, Work, Independent Living. Short article about changes in the definition of transition services in IDEA 2004.

News

Proposed IDEA Regulations on Fast Track, Expected in Early June - In a wide-ranging interview, Dr. Troy Justesen, Acting Director of the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), advised that he expects the proposed Regulations for Part B to be published in early June. He describes the process for public comment, timelines, and issues that have elicited concerns. (May 18, 2005)

Draft Regulations, Schedule of Public Meetings for Comment on IDEA 2004 - The Council of Parent Attorneys & Advocates answers reader's questions about IDEA implementation issues. (04/07/05)

IDEA 2004 Regulations: Public Comments & Meetings - U. S. Department of Education requests public comments; announces public meetings in several cities in early 2005. (1/3/05)

President Signs Reauthorized IDEA - On December 3, 2004, the President signed the reauthorized IDEA into law. The signing ceremony was attended by members of Congress and officials from the Department of Education. (12/3/04)

Conference Committee Votes on IDEA Reauthorization: The Inside Story by Jess Butler.
Parents, advocates, attorneys, and children with disabilities attended the House-Senate Conference Committee meeting. Learn the inside story about compromises, how members voted (and why). (11/18/04)

Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004

Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004 is a new publication that includes the full text of the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004), commentary and discussion of the new statute, and critical changes from IDEA 97. The format, layout, and statutory explanations are similar to Wrightslaw: Special Education Law.

Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004 will be available before the reauthorized IDEA goes into effect on July 1, 2005. Subscribers to The Special Ed Advocate newsletter will receive advance notice by email before Wrightslaw: IDEA 2004 is available to the public.

Publications & Reports

Many legal, educational and disability organizations are publishing reports about the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004). The IDEA 2004 Publications, Reports & Resources Page includes links to these reports and publications.