States Rated on Special Education Programs

The U.S. Department of Education has issued ratings on each state's implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), as part of the on-going efforts to improve results for children with disabilities. According to the ratings, only nine states fully meet the IDEA's requirements. (Alaska, Connecticut, Hawaii, Michigan, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and Wyoming). The IDEA guarantees the right to a "free and appropriate education" to students with disabilities, and provides federal funding to states and local school districts to help pay the costs of special education and related services such as speech and language therapy and physical therapy. Under the IDEA, an individualized education program (IEP) is developed for each child.

• Department of Education Fact Sheet on States' Implementation of IDEA
• AP News: States Graded on Special-Ed Compliance
• Overview of Special Education Law (FindLaw)
• Can the IDEA Help My Child? (FindLaw)