With a 397 to 3 vote in the House of Representatives and a voice vote in the Senate, Congress passed a reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA authorizes funding and programs for students with disabilities to receive a “free and appropriate education.”

 The final version, which comes after nearly two years of debate, includes the following key components.

• Congress is committed to providing the full, 40-percent share of special education costs by the year 2011.
• Schools will have more latitude for disciplining special needs students for problem behavior not pertaining to their disabilities.
• Teachers will be required to submit less paperwork.
• Minor changes to students’ Individual Education Plans (IEPs) can be made without convening a full IEP meeting.
• In an effort to reduce special education placement-related lawsuits, educators and parents will be required to seek mediation prior to convening a due-process hearing.
• Veteran teachers have until the end of the 2005-2006 school year to meet “highly qualified” standards.