Parent’s Guide for Special Education

Children with disabilities have a right to a free, appropriate public education. Children differ in mental abilities, sensory development, physical traits, emotional or social behaviors, or communication skills. Some may require modification to their school program or special education and related services in order to benefit from their schooling.

Congress recognized that children with disabilities have special needs and passed what is now called the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1975. That law provided that children with disabilities must received a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The law has since been reauthorized five times and the Parent’s Guide to Special Education reflects the latest changes made by Congress in 1997. Missouri House Bill 474 and later legislation make it the law of the state to provide special education services, sufficient to meet the needs of all children with eligible disabilities, from the child’s 3rd birthday to age 21, at no cost to the parent. The Missouri State Plan for Special Education contains all regulations that must be followed by all public school districts and other responsible agencies in the provision of special education services.

This guide was developed to provide information concerning your rights and responsibilities as the parent of a child with a disability as defined in the Missouri State Plan for Special Education. For more information on these rights, access Procedural safeguards for Children and Parents. You may access the Parent’s Guide for Special Education at the following website: www.dese.state.mo.us