Last year at this time the President signed into law a bill amending the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004). IDEA 2004 builds on the education reforms in the No Child Left Behind Act and includes reforms that will help teachers, parents and schools ensure that every child with a disability received a quality education.

Some of the highlights of the bill include making sure to include, states to establish goals for the performance of children with disabilities that are aligned with each state’s definition of “adequate yearly progress” under the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001. Both of these laws have not only removed the barrier separating special education from general education, they also have put the needs of students with disabilities front and center. “ It’s central to the success of any school.” Idea enhances the role of parents and improving student achievement through instructional approaches that are based on research. A good link to find out more information is here.

Some of the things that were updated in IDEA are listed on this website and good for you to familiarize yourself with. I have listed the topics here.

Changes in Evaluation and Initial Evaluation
Children Enrolled By Their Parents in Private Schools
Discipline
Disproportionality and Overidentification
Early Intervening Services
Highly Qualified Teachers
IEP Team Meetings and Changes to the IEP
Local Funding
National Instructional Materials Accessibility Standard
Part C Amendments in IDEA 2004
Part C Option: Age 3 to Kindergarten Age
Procedural Safeguards: Surrogates, Notice and Consent
Procedural Safeguards: Mediation and Resolution Sessions
Procedural Safeguards: Due Process Hearings
Secondary Transition
State Funding
Statewide and District wide Assessments

All of these topics are important to our kids and are good for you to keep up to date on. Know your rights when it comes the education of your ASD kids!