The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a federal law that makes an appropriate, free public education available to eligible children with disabilities and ensures special education and related services to those children. The IDEA is located in the U.S. Code at 20 U.S.C. §1400.

The IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 7.5 million (as of school year 2018-19) eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

Infants and toddlers, birth through age 2, with disabilities and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth ages 3 through 21 receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.

Additionally, the IDEA authorizes:

• Formula grants to states to support special education and related services and early intervention services.

• Discretionary grants to state educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and other nonprofit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology development, personnel preparation and development, and parent-training and -information centers.

Congress reauthorized the IDEA in 2004 and most recently amended the IDEA through Public Law 114-95, the Every Student Succeeds Act, in December 2015.

In the law, Congress states:

Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society. Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.

In Virginia, as in all states, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) provides the framework for special education services for children with disabilities. Under IDEA, children from birth through age 2 with disabilities and their families are eligible for early intervention services under Part C, while children and youth ages 3 through 21 are eligible for special education and related services under Part B. The act mandates that public education systems provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) tailored to the individual needs of eligible children with disabilities. Virginia complies with the federal law by providing formula grants to support these services and may also receive discretionary grants to enhance special education and early intervention services. The state's Department of Education is responsible for ensuring that local educational agencies within Virginia adhere to the requirements of IDEA, including the development and implementation of Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for eligible students. The IDEA's principles align with the national policy to promote equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.