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Special Education

Access the 2005 annual reports to Congress on the implementation of the IDEA. This includes the 27th annual report to Congress under the IDEA, Parts B and C (P.L. 108-446); and also the 2005 annual report to Congress on IDEA Part D, Subparts 2 and 3 (P.L. 108-446).

The 2004 Annual Report to Congress has two volumes - Volume 1 focuses on the children and students being served under the IDEA and provides profiles of individual states' special education environment. Volume 2 of the report contains the state-reported data tables.

As part of the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the IDEA, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) presents an overview on the history and accomplishments of this landmark law. Document is in .pdf format. Also available in Word format.

Report from the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education.

A project of the Center on Children, Families and the Law at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for families with children with special needs, including disabilities (such as physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities) and chronic illnesses of all types.

Information about assistive technology and the IEP from DakotaLink, the South Dakota program for Assistive Technology, through the Division of Rehabilitation Services, Department of Human Services.

Guide from the U.S. Department of Education on ADHD, including diagnosis, treatment options, legal requirements and ways to improve life at school and home for children diagnosed with ADHD.

Web site from the U.S. Department of Education offers resources and information regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), a law which ensures services to children with disabilities throughout the nation.

Works to improve services to children and youth with emotional and behavioral problems.

CSEF addresses fiscal policy questions related to the delivery and support of special education services throughout the United States.

Information about Department of Education grants and funding to improve elementary and secondary schools and meet the special needs of students.

Provides a wide array of support to parents and individuals, school districts and states in three main areas: special education, vocational rehabilitation and research in order to improve results and outcomes for people with disabilities (including physical, intellectual and developmental disabilities) of all ages.

Report to the President on Executive Order 13217, which promotes the availability of community alternatives for individuals with disabilities.

DDRCs are located within research universities and/or are affiliated with major medical centers, and represent the world's largest concentration of scientific expertise in the fields of intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Information on New Freedom Initiative efforts from the White House Web site.

U.S. Department of Defense's wide-ranging educational, medical and early intervention services to military family members with disabilities.

Executive Order establishing the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education.

Assists educators, parents and state and local educational agencies in implementing the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) regarding IEPs for children with disabilities.

Information and resources about the IDEA from the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities (NICHCY).

Information from the U.S. Department of Education regarding what families and schools need to know about modified academic achievement standards under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This information can be downloaded in .pdf form here.

NASET is a national voluntary coalition of more than 40 organizations and advocacy groups representing special education, general education, career and technical education, youth development, multicultural perspectives and parents.

Association dedicated to improving educational services and outcomes for our children and youth with disabilities and their families.

Works to increase the nation's capacity to recruit, prepare and retain diverse, highly-qualified special educators, early intervention and related service providers.

Designed to accelerate learning for students with disabilities in the early grades to provide a solid foundation for strong achievement in the intermediate grades and beyond.

Committed to enhancing the nation's capacity to recruit, prepare and retain well-qualified, diverse educators and related service personnel for children with disabilities.

A central source for information on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) as it relates to children with disabilities and effective educational practices.

Contains a wealth of information about children with deaf-blindness.

The MRDD Branch sponsors research and training aimed at preventing mental retardation and related developmental disabilities.

Provides schools with capacity-building information and technical assistance for identifying, adapting and sustaining effective school-wide disciplinary practices.

Includes an easy-to-read review of educational research relating to effective practices in teaching children with disabilities, as well as connections to more detailed resources to assist in moving the research into practice.

A January 2008 report from the National Council on Disability (NCD) about the No Child Left Behind Act and the IDEA and how educators across the country are reexamining their practices to find ways to close the achievement gaps between groups of students.

Answers to frequently asked questions from OSERS.

Links to projects funded by OSEP of the U.S. Department of Education, including assistive technology, captioning and video description, educational reform and literacy programs.

Established by President George W. Bush in 2001, the Commission worked to collect information and study issues related to federal, state and local special education programs with the goal of recommending policies for improving the education performance of students with disabilities. The Commission delivered its report to President Bush on July 1, 2002 and ceased to exist 30 days thereafter.

An online resource from the U.S. Department of Education designed to help school district officials and parents understand how the reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides for students with disabilities enrolled by their parents in private elementary schools and secondary schools. Document is in Word format.

Links to information on No Child Left Behind (NCLB) and the U.S. Department of Education's budget and strategic plan.

Publication from the New Jersey Protection and Advocacy Service answers common questions regarding special education and the rights of children with disabilties. Document is in .pdf format.

Background information and resources from the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE) designed to facilitate the successful inclusion of students with disabilities in charter schools.

Provides technical assistance to Parent Training and Information Centers and Community Family Centers.

The national organization of and for people with mental and developmental disabilities and their families.

New opportunities are being developed for youth with disabilities to reap the benefits of postsecondary education. This website contains information for prospective college students, family members and education professionals.

The Tool Kit on Teaching and Assessing Students with Disabilities assists states in raising the achievement of all students with disabilities.

The latest news and updates from OSERS.

Network of special and general education leaders working together to improve outcomes for students with disabilities in the nation's urban schools.

Hundreds of articles, cases, newsletters and resources about special education law and advocacy.

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Popular Links

Empowering through the New Freedom Initiative
Information on New Freedom Initiative efforts from the White House Web site.
Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Guide
Guide from the U.S. Department of Education on ADHD, including diagnosis, treatment options, legal requirements and ways to improve life at school and home for children diagnosed with ADHD.
Office of Special Education & Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to frequently asked questions from OSERS.
Answers4Families: Families with Special Needs Children
A project of the Center on Children, Families and the Law at the University of Nebraska in Lincoln for families with children with special needs, including disabilities (such as physical, developmental or intellectual disabilities) and chronic illnesses of all types.
Exceptional Family Members Program of the Military Assistance Program
U.S. Department of Defense's wide-ranging educational, medical and early intervention services to military family members with disabilities.