In 1975, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), reaffirmed the nation’s belief that all children deserve a free and appropriate public education.

NASSP continues to advocate for robust policy and fiscal support in the education of students with disabilities and other special needs. In 2009, NASSP convened a task force to study the effects of the IDEA law and related regulatory language on school leaders. The IDEA task force later released recommendations regarding a series of changes that it believes should be incorporated into a newly reauthorized IDEA law.

NASSP also supports the full funding of the IDEA. Full-funding refers to the federal government’s commitment to pay 40% of the average per-pupil expenditure costs of educating special education students.

Legislative or Policy Priorities

NASSP Resources