ABSTRACT
This chapter discusses the laws that affect the identification of students for and the delivery of special education services. The chapter begins with outlining the rights and responsibilities of parents and how both general and special education candidates should respect those rights. Following is Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 that provides accommodations in general education classrooms to school-aged students with disabilities who do not qualify for direct special education services. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) section includes the major provisions of this pivotal law that affects all students identified as in need of special education. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is a major law that affects many aspects of education. It affects students and teachers through a requirement for statewide assessment of academic progress of all students, including those with disabilities. The Family Rights and Educational Privacy Act (FERPA) provides requirements as to how teachers must respect the confidentiality of school records for all students. Critical to education candidates is an awareness and understanding of the various provisions of laws that are designed to protect students, families, teachers, and schools.
