Parent's Guide to Special Education in Missouri

Overview & Synopsis

Children with disabilities have a right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). 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 receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The law has since been reauthorized six times and this booklet reflects the latest changes made by Congress in 2004. 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 one's rights and responsibilities as the parent of a child with a disability as defined in the Missouri State Plan for Special Education. Appendices include: (1) Criteria for Determination of Eligibility; (2) Definitions of Disabilities; (3) Special Education Placements; and (4) Resources. (Contains 4 resources.) [This is an update of "A Parent's Guide to Special Education in Missouri," published in July 1983. To access this report, see ED264708.]