The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) assists states with implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). As part of its mission, OSEP is charged with developing, communicating and disseminating federal policy on early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities and on the provision of special education and related services for children with disabilities.

Significant Policy Guidance Documents
Under Executive Order #13422

Guidance on Discipline Procedures.
This Q&A document provides parents, parent training and information centers, school personnel, state educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), advocacy organizations and other interested parties with information on the needs, expressed by school administrators and teachers, for flexibility in order to balance school safety issues with the need to ensure that schools respond appropriately to a child's behavior that was caused by, or directly and substantially related to, the child's disability.
MS Word (136KB) | PDF (56KB)

Guidance on on Disproportionality.
This Q&A document provides parents, parent training and information centers, school personnel, SEAs, LEAs, advocacy organizations and other interested parties with information on how states and LEAs can take steps to address disproportionate representation of racial/ethnic groups in special education.
MS Word (93KB) | PDF (23KB)

Guidance on Homeless Children with Disabilities.
This Q&A document provides state and local educational officials, early intervention services providers and homeless assistance coordinators with information to assist with implementation of the requirements of the IDEA and the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act.
MS Word (136KB) | PDF (141KB)

Guidance on Monitoring, Technical Assistance and Enforcement.
This Q&A document provides parents, parent training and information centers, school personnel, SEAs, LEAs, advocacy organizations and other interested parties with information on significant changes related to monitoring that place an emphasis on improving educational results and functional outcomes for children with disabilities by focusing monitoring activities in certain priority areas and measuring performance using quantifiable and qualitative indicators.
MS Word (139KB) | PDF (46KB)

Guidance on Procedural Safeguards and Due Process Procedures for Parents and Children with Disabilities.
This Q&A document provides parents, parent training and information centers, school personnel, SEAs, LEAs, advocacy organizations and other interested parties with information on several changes in the IDEA Part B regulations regarding the procedures states must adopt for resolving written complaints filed with the SEA.
MS Word (134KB) | PDF (61KB)

Guidance on Secondary Transition.
This Q&A document provides parents, parent training and information centers, school personnel, SEAs, LEAs, advocacy organizations and other interested parties with information on regulations that address transition services for children with disabilities. Transition services may be designed to facilitate a student's movement to post-school activities, including postsecondary education, and integrated employment.
MS Word (103KB) | PDF (29KB)

Other Policy-related Publications and Products

Coordinated Early Intervening Services (CEIS) Under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
OSEP issued this guidance to provide states with information regarding the use of funds provided under Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act by local educational agencies (LEAs) to develop and implement coordinated early intervening services (CEIS) for students who are currently not identified as needing special education.

FY 2006 Determination Letters on State Implementation of IDEA
OSERS released state determinations on implementation of the IDEA for Part B and Part C for fiscal year 2006. Under the act, the Education Department is required to issue annual determination letters to each state on their progress in meeting the requirements of the statute.

IDEA 2004 Resources

IDEA 1997 Resources
While regulations implementing the IDEA 2004 are being prepared, the regulations implementing the 1997 law remain in effect, to the extent that they are consistent with the IDEA 2004 statute.

Ley de Educación para Personas con Impedimentos -- Reglamento Final
Mientras las regulaciones que aplica la IDEA 2004 son preparados, las regulaciones que aplica la 1997 ley se queda del hecho, hasta el punto que ellos son consecuente con la IDEA 2004 estatuto.

No Child Left Behind (NCLB) Legislation, Regulations and Guidance

Secretary's "Tool Kit" Provides Guidance on Assessing Students with Disabilities.

OSEP Policy-related Publications and Letters (Under Section 607 of the IDEA)

Other OSEP Publications