WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE I.D.E.A.? 1
Exploring Who Is Eligible For I.D.E.A. and Why?
Gary Sanders, Sr.
Nova Southeastern University
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE I.D.E.A.? 2
Abstract
The purpose of this paper is to explore the immense changes that Special Education has undergone through the years and the different views of legislation on how to handle children with disabilities. When a state provides education to children, it must be provided on equal terms and the children of that state must not be denied the right to education without due process. We will explore laws governing who is eligible under the I.D.E.A. and the interpretations of various scenarios.
WHO IS ELIGIBLE FOR BENEFITS UNDER THE I.D.E.A.? 3
Over forty years ago, approximately three million children with disabilities were not receiving appropriate educational services in the public schools. Also, it is estimated that another one million were excluded totally from public education. Public school systems did not possess or did not want to commit the funds to educate special education students. Consider for a small and local school district, allocating funding for ten students could place a strain on the fiscal budget. However, in 1975, President Gerald Ford signed into law the EAHCA (Education For All Handicapped Children Act). Since that time, legislation and the interpretation of such has varied from one court to another.
In accordance with the article, “Who is Eligible Under the Individuals with Disabilities Improvement Act, this author takes notice that teaching Special Education and the laws governing the welfare of Special Education students has involved a lot of ups and down. What was discovered is that none of the methods utilized in Special Education are entirely right or wrong in addressing the educational needs of children with learning disabilities. Children with learning disabilities should be educated in the most appropriate way...