Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) (1990, amended 2004)

1) Link to the Text of the Act
Read the statute (20 U.S.C. § 1400 et seq.)

2) Why It Was Done
Congress enacted IDEA to ensure children with disabilities have the right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) tailored to their needs, with access to special education and related services.

3) Pre-existing Law or Constitutional Rights
IDEA replaced the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975. Court rulings like PARC v. Pennsylvania (1971) and Mills v. Board of Education (1972) had already established constitutional rights to equal educational opportunities for children with disabilities.