20 USC 1401 - Definitions

Collapse to view only § 1401. Definitions

§ 1400. Short title; findings; purposes
§ 1401. Definitions
§ 1402. Office of Special Education Programs
§ 1403. Abrogation of State sovereign immunity
§ 1404. Acquisition of equipment; construction or alteration of facilities
§ 1405. Employment of individuals with disabilities
§ 1406. Requirements for prescribing regulations
§ 1407. State administration
§ 1408. Paperwork reduction
§ 1409. Freely associated States

§ 1400. Short title; findings; purposes

(a) Short title

(b) Omitted

(1) Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society. Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.

(2) Before the date of enactment of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 (Public Law 94–142), the educational needs of millions of children with disabilities were not being fully met because—

(A) the children did not receive appropriate educational services;

(B) the children were excluded entirely from the public school system and from being educated with their peers;

(D) a lack of adequate resources within the public school system forced families to find services outside the public school system.

(3) Since the enactment and implementation of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, this chapter has been successful in ensuring children with disabilities and the families of such children access to a free appropriate public education and in improving educational results for children with disabilities.

(4) However, the implementation of this chapter has been impeded by low expectations, and an insufficient focus on applying replicable research on proven methods of teaching and learning for children with disabilities.

(5) Almost 30 years of research and experience has demonstrated that the education of children with disabilities can be made more effective by—

(A) having high expectations for such children and ensuring their access to the general education curriculum in the regular classroom, to the maximum extent possible, in order to—

(i) meet developmental goals and, to the maximum extent possible, the challenging expectations that have been established for all children; and

(ii) be prepared to lead productive and independent adult lives, to the maximum extent possible;

(B) strengthening the role and responsibility of parents and ensuring that families of such children have meaningful opportunities to participate in the education of their children at school and at home;

(C) coordinating this chapter with other local, educational service agency, State, and Federal school improvement efforts, including improvement efforts under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6301 et seq.], in order to ensure that such children benefit from such efforts and that special education can become a service for such children rather than a place where such children are sent;

(D) providing appropriate special education and related services, and aids and supports in the regular classroom, to such children, whenever appropriate;

(E) supporting high-quality, intensive preservice preparation and professional development for all personnel who work with children with disabilities in order to ensure that such personnel have the skills and knowledge necessary to improve the academic achievement and functional performance of children with disabilities, including the use of scientifically based instructional practices, to the maximum extent possible;

(F) providing incentives for whole-school approaches, scientifically based early reading programs, positive behavioral interventions and supports, and early intervening services to reduce the need to label children as disabled in order to address the learning and behavioral needs of such children;

(G) focusing resources on teaching and learning while reducing paperwork and requirements that do not assist in improving educational results; and

(H) supporting the development and use of technology, including assistive technology devices and assistive technology services, to maximize accessibility for children with disabilities.

(6) While States, local educational agencies, and educational service agencies are primarily responsible for providing an education for all children with disabilities, it is in the national interest that the Federal Government have a supporting role in assisting State and local efforts to educate children with disabilities in order to improve results for such children and to ensure equal protection of the law.

(7) A more equitable allocation of resources is essential for the Federal Government to meet its responsibility to provide an equal educational opportunity for all individuals.

(8) Parents and schools should be given expanded opportunities to resolve their disagreements in positive and constructive ways.

(9) Teachers, schools, local educational agencies, and States should be relieved of irrelevant and unnecessary paperwork burdens that do not lead to improved educational outcomes.

(10)

(A) The Federal Government must be responsive to the growing needs of an increasingly diverse society.

(B) America’s ethnic profile is rapidly changing. In 2000, 1 of every 3 persons in the United States was a member of a minority group or was limited English proficient.

(D) With such changing demographics, recruitment efforts for special education personnel should focus on increasing the participation of minorities in the teaching profession in order to provide appropriate role models with sufficient knowledge to address the special education needs of these students.

(11)

(A) The limited English proficient population is the fastest growing in our Nation, and the growth is occurring in many parts of our Nation.

(B) Studies have documented apparent discrepancies in the levels of referral and placement of limited English proficient children in special education.

(C) Such discrepancies pose a special challenge for special education in the referral of, assessment of, and provision of services for, our Nation’s students from non-English language backgrounds.

(12)

(A) Greater efforts are needed to prevent the intensification of problems connected with mislabeling and high dropout rates among minority children with disabilities.

(B) More minority children continue to be served in special education than would be expected from the percentage of minority students in the general school population.

(C) African-American children are identified as having intellectual disabilities and emotional disturbance at rates greater than their White counterparts.

(D) In the 1998–1999 school year, African-American children represented just 14.8 percent of the population aged 6 through 21, but comprised 20.2 percent of all children with disabilities.

(E) Studies have found that schools with predominately White students and teachers have placed disproportionately high numbers of their minority students into special education.

(13)

(A) As the number of minority students in special education increases, the number of minority teachers and related services personnel produced in colleges and universities continues to decrease.

(B) The opportunity for full participation by minority individuals, minority organizations, and Historically Black Colleges and Universities in awards for grants and contracts, boards of organizations receiving assistance under this chapter, peer review panels, and training of professionals in the area of special education is essential to obtain greater success in the education of minority children with disabilities.

(14) As the graduation rates for children with disabilities continue to climb, providing effective transition services to promote successful post-school employment or education is an important measure of accountability for children with disabilities.

(d) PurposesThe purposes of this chapter are—

(1)

(A) to ensure that all children with disabilities have available to them a free appropriate public education that emphasizes special education and related services designed to meet their unique needs and prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living;

(B) to ensure that the rights of children with disabilities and parents of such children are protected; and

(C) to assist States, localities, educational service agencies, and Federal agencies to provide for the education of all children with disabilities;

(2) to assist States in the implementation of a statewide, comprehensive, coordinated, multidisciplinary, interagency system of early intervention services for infants and toddlers with disabilities and their families;

(3) to ensure that educators and parents have the necessary tools to improve educational results for children with disabilities by supporting system improvement activities; coordinated research and personnel preparation; coordinated technical assistance, dissemination, and support; and technology development and media services; and

(4) to assess, and ensure the effectiveness of, efforts to educate children with disabilities.

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 601, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2647; amended Pub. L. 111–256, § 2(b)(1), Oct. 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 2643.)

§ 1401. DefinitionsExcept as otherwise provided, in this chapter:

(1) Assistive technology device

(A) In general

(B) Exception

(2) Assistive technology serviceThe term “assistive technology service” means any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. Such term includes—

(A) the evaluation of the needs of such child, including a functional evaluation of the child in the child’s customary environment;

(B) purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by such child;

(C) selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices;

(D) coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs;

(E) training or technical assistance for such child, or, where appropriate, the family of such child; and

(F) training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education and rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of such child.

(3) Child with a disability

(A) In generalThe term “child with a disability” means a child—

(i) with intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments (including deafness), speech or language impairments, visual impairments (including blindness), serious emotional disturbance (referred to in this chapter as “emotional disturbance”), orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, or specific learning disabilities; and

(ii) who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.

(B) Child aged 3 through 9

(i) experiencing developmental delays, as defined by the State and as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures, in 1 or more of the following areas: physical development; cognitive development; communication development; social or emotional development; or adaptive development; and

(ii) who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.

(4) Repealed. Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(ss)(1)(A), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2181

(5) Educational service agencyThe term “educational service agency”—

(A) means a regional public multiservice agency—

(i) authorized by State law to develop, manage, and provide services or programs to local educational agencies; and

(ii) recognized as an administrative agency for purposes of the provision of special education and related services provided within public elementary schools and secondary schools of the State; and

(B) includes any other public institution or agency having administrative control and direction over a public elementary school or secondary school.

(6) Elementary school

(7) EquipmentThe term “equipment” includes—

(A) machinery, utilities, and built-in equipment, and any necessary enclosures or structures to house such machinery, utilities, or equipment; and

(B) all other items necessary for the functioning of a particular facility as a facility for the provision of educational services, including items such as instructional equipment and necessary furniture; printed, published, and audio-visual instructional materials; telecommunications, sensory, and other technological aids and devices; and books, periodicals, documents, and other related materials.

(8) Excess costsThe term “excess costs” means those costs that are in excess of the average annual per-student expenditure in a local educational agency during the preceding school year for an elementary school or secondary school student, as may be appropriate, and which shall be computed after deducting—

(A) amounts received—

(i) under subchapter II;

(ii) under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.]; and

(iii) under part A of title III of that Act [20 U.S.C. 6811 et seq.]; and

(B) any State or local funds expended for programs that would qualify for assistance under any of those parts.

(9) Free appropriate public educationThe term “free appropriate public education” means special education and related services that—

(A) have been provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without charge;

(B) meet the standards of the State educational agency;

(D) are provided in conformity with the individualized education program required under section 1414(d) of this title.

(10) Repealed. Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9214(d)(1), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2164

(11) Homeless children

(12) Indian

(13) Indian tribe

(14) Individualized education program; IEP

(15) Individualized family service plan

(16) Infant or toddler with a disability

(17) Institution of higher educationThe term “institution of higher education”—

(A) has the meaning given the term in section 1001 of this title; and

(B) also includes any college or university receiving funding from the Secretary of the Interior under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 [25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.].

(18) Limited English proficient

(19) Local educational agency

(A) In general

(B) Educational service agencies and other public institutions or agenciesThe term includes—

(i) an educational service agency; and

(ii) any other public institution or agency having administrative control and direction of a public elementary school or secondary school.

(20) Native language

(21) Nonprofit

(22) Outlying area

(23) ParentThe term “parent” means—

(A) a natural, adoptive, or foster parent of a child (unless a foster parent is prohibited by State law from serving as a parent);

(B) a guardian (but not the State if the child is a ward of the State);

(C) an individual acting in the place of a natural or adoptive parent (including a grandparent, stepparent, or other relative) with whom the child lives, or an individual who is legally responsible for the child’s welfare; or

(D) except as used in sections 1415(b)(2) and 1439(a)(5) of this title, an individual assigned under either of those sections to be a surrogate parent.

(24) Parent organization

(25) Parent training and information center

(26) Related services

(A) In general

(B) Exception

(27) Secondary school

(28) Secretary

(29) Special educationThe term “special education” means specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including—

(A) instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings; and

(B) instruction in physical education.

(30) Specific learning disability

(A) In general

(B) Disorders included

(31) State

(32) State educational agency

(33) Supplementary aids and services

(34) Transition servicesThe term “transition services” means a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that—

(A) is designed to be within a results-oriented process, that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child’s movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation;

(B) is based on the individual child’s needs, taking into account the child’s strengths, preferences, and interests; and

(C) includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and, when appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.

(35) Universal design

(36) Ward of the State

(A) In general

(B) Exception

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 602, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2652; amended Pub. L. 110–315, title IX, § 941(k)(2)(C), Aug. 14, 2008, 122 Stat. 3466; Pub. L. 111–256, § 2(b)(2), Oct. 5, 2010, 124 Stat. 2643; Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, §§ 9214(d)(1), 9215(ss)(1), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2164, 2181.)

§ 1402. Office of Special Education Programs

(a) Establishment

(b) Director

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 603, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2659.)

§ 1403. Abrogation of State sovereign immunity

(a) In general

(b) Remedies

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 604, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2659.)

§ 1404. Acquisition of equipment; construction or alteration of facilities

(a) In general

(b) Compliance with certain regulations

Any construction of new facilities or alteration of existing facilities under subsection (a) shall comply with the requirements of—

(1) appendix A of part 36 of title 28, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly known as the “Americans with Disabilities Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities”); or

(2) appendix A of subpart 101–19.6 of title 41, Code of Federal Regulations (commonly known as the “Uniform Federal Accessibility Standards”).

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 605, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2659.)

§ 1405. Employment of individuals with disabilities

The Secretary shall ensure that each recipient of assistance under this chapter makes positive efforts to employ and advance in employment qualified individuals with disabilities in programs assisted under this chapter.

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 606, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2659.)

§ 1406. Requirements for prescribing regulations

(a) In general

(b) Protections provided to children

The Secretary may not implement, or publish in final form, any regulation prescribed pursuant to this chapter that—

(1) violates or contradicts any provision of this chapter; or

(2) procedurally or substantively lessens the protections provided to children with disabilities under this chapter, as embodied in regulations in effect on July 20, 1983 (particularly as such protections related to parental consent to initial evaluation or initial placement in special education, least restrictive environment, related services, timelines, attendance of evaluation personnel at individualized education program meetings, or qualifications of personnel), except to the extent that such regulation reflects the clear and unequivocal intent of Congress in legislation.

(d) Policy letters and statements

The Secretary may not issue policy letters or other statements (including letters or statements regarding issues of national significance) that—

(1) violate or contradict any provision of this chapter; or

(2) establish a rule that is required for compliance with, and eligibility under, this chapter without following the requirements of section 553 of title 5.

(e) Explanation and assurances

Any written response by the Secretary under subsection (d) regarding a policy, question, or interpretation under subchapter II shall include an explanation in the written response that—

(1) such response is provided as informal guidance and is not legally binding;

(2) when required, such response is issued in compliance with the requirements of section 553 of title 5; and

(3) such response represents the interpretation by the Department of Education of the applicable statutory or regulatory requirements in the context of the specific facts presented.

(f) Correspondence from Department of Education describing interpretations of this chapter

(1) In general

(2) Additional information

For each item of correspondence published in a list under paragraph (1), the Secretary shall—

(A) identify the topic addressed by the correspondence and shall include such other summary information as the Secretary determines to be appropriate; and

(B) ensure that all such correspondence is issued, where applicable, in compliance with the requirements of section 553 of title 5.

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 607, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2659.)

§ 1407. State administration

(a) Rulemaking

Each State that receives funds under this chapter shall—

(1) ensure that any State rules, regulations, and policies relating to this chapter conform to the purposes of this chapter;

(2) identify in writing to local educational agencies located in the State and the Secretary any such rule, regulation, or policy as a State-imposed requirement that is not required by this chapter and Federal regulations; and

(3) minimize the number of rules, regulations, and policies to which the local educational agencies and schools located in the State are subject under this chapter.

(b) Support and facilitation

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 608, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2661.)

§ 1408. Paperwork reduction

(a) Pilot program

(1) Purpose

(2) Authorization

(A) In general

(B) Exception

(i) affect the right of a child with a disability to receive a free appropriate public education under subchapter II; and

(ii) permit a State or local educational agency to waive procedural safeguards under section 1415 of this title.

(3) Proposal

(A) In general

(B) ContentThe proposal shall include—

(i) a list of any statutory requirements of, or regulatory requirements relating to, subchapter II that the State desires the Secretary to waive, in whole or in part; and

(ii) a list of any State requirements that the State proposes to waive or change, in whole or in part, to carry out a waiver granted to the State by the Secretary.

(4) Termination of waiverThe Secretary shall terminate a State’s waiver under this section if the Secretary determines that the State—

(A) needs assistance under section 1416(d)(2)(A)(ii) of this title and that the waiver has contributed to or caused such need for assistance;

(B) needs intervention under section 1416(d)(2)(A)(iii) of this title or needs substantial intervention under section 1416(d)(2)(A)(iv) of this title; or

(b) ReportBeginning 2 years after December 3, 2004, the Secretary shall include in the annual report to Congress submitted pursuant to section 3486 of this title information related to the effectiveness of waivers granted under subsection (a), including any specific recommendations for broader implementation of such waivers, in—

(1) reducing—

(A) the paperwork burden on teachers, principals, administrators, and related service providers; and

(B) noninstructional time spent by teachers in complying with subchapter II;

(2) enhancing longer-term educational planning;

(3) improving positive outcomes for children with disabilities;

(4) promoting collaboration between IEP Team members; and

(5) ensuring satisfaction of family members.

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 609, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2661.)

§ 1409. Freely associated States

The Republic of the Marshall Islands, the Federated States of Micronesia, and the Republic of Palau shall continue to be eligible for competitive grants administered by the Secretary under this chapter to the extent that such grants continue to be available to States and local educational agencies under this chapter.

(Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 610, as added Pub. L. 108–446, title I, § 101, Dec. 3, 2004, 118 Stat. 2662.)