The Future of IDEA
"P.L. 94-142 will mark its 50th anniversary in 2025. The first 35 years since the passage of this landmark law have witnessed unparalleled national progress in ensuring access to a free appropriate public education for all children with disabilities. However, continuing IDEA progress for the next 15 years will require accepting the challenge of the 1997 and 2004 amendments to IDEA to not only ensure access to education but also improve results for infants, toddlers, children, and youths with disabilities and their families in each state and every locality across the country." - U.S. Department of Education
"To meet this challenge [in spite of recent budget cuts], IDEA must build on its previous support for equality of access and continue to expand and strengthen its support for quality programs and services. Improving educational results for children with disabilities requires a continued focus on the full implementation of IDEA to ensure that each student's educational placement and services are determined on an individual basis, according to the unique needs of each child, and are provided in the least restrictive environment." - U.S. Department of Education
"To meet this challenge [in spite of recent budget cuts], IDEA must build on its previous support for equality of access and continue to expand and strengthen its support for quality programs and services. Improving educational results for children with disabilities requires a continued focus on the full implementation of IDEA to ensure that each student's educational placement and services are determined on an individual basis, according to the unique needs of each child, and are provided in the least restrictive environment." - U.S. Department of Education
"The focus must be on teaching and learning that use individualized approaches to access the general education curriculum and support learning and high achievement for all students." - U.S. Department of Education
"It is known, after 35 years, that there is no easy or quick fix to the challenges of educating children with disabilities. However, it is also known that IDEA has been a primary catalyst for the progress witnessed. Because of federal leadership, the people of the United States better appreciate the fact that each citizen, including individuals with disabilities, has a right to participate and contribute meaningfully to society.
"With the continued federal-state-local partnerships, the nation will similarly demonstrate that improving educational results for children with disabilities and their families is critical to empowering all citizens to maximize their employment, self-sufficiency, and independence." - U.S. Department of Education
"With the continued federal-state-local partnerships, the nation will similarly demonstrate that improving educational results for children with disabilities and their families is critical to empowering all citizens to maximize their employment, self-sufficiency, and independence." - U.S. Department of Education
"Our nation's ability to compete successfully in the global community depends on the meaningful inclusion of all citizens in our educational system, including students with disabilities. We cannot afford to leave anyone out of our efforts.
Every child is a precious resource whose full potential must be tapped." - U.S. Department of Education
IDEA will continue to grow and expand to help every child with a disability succeed in school and life. Working with IDEA, everyone can make the education for children with disabilities more inclusive, therefore empowering them in life.
Conclusion
Clearly, rights of parents and children with disabilities have increased dramatically with the passing of IDEA, while also decreasing discrimination. IDEA protects the rights and gives responsibilities to those using the law.
"IDEA is more than a law, it’s a promise. We have, as a country, committed to serving the educational needs of children with learning and attention issues. We all know the law has not always fulfilled that promise and parents still struggle every day to get the support their children need. But that's why we fight to make things better." - National Center for Learning Disabilities
Thanks to IDEA, millions of students with disabilities can attend school and become active members of society. But this does not happen without the help of parents, schools, and the government. The meaning behind IDEA is good and the law will persist, despite major funding cuts. IDEA will continue to protect the rights of people affected by disabilities despite the uncertainty of the future.