STEP Center

Federal and State Special Education and Disability Laws This section includes links to the text of federal and state laws, including regulations including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

Individuals with Disabilities Act

IDEA 97 provides for a free appropriate public education for all children experiencing disabilities in the least restrictive environment. When researching this law, people usually use the following resources:

• IDEA 97 Law and Federal Regulations 

• State Education Regulations  

• Alaska Parent Guide - Education and the Exceptional Child
  (Please note that Parent Guides in other languages are located at: http://www.eed.state.ak.us/tls/sped/Resources.html)

Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

Section 504 requires school staff to provide eligible students with disabilities with a free appropriate public education in which the benefits and opportunities are comparable to those provided to non-disabled students.

• Federal Regulations