By Valerie C. Williams
Director, Office of Special Education Programs
Over seven million children with disabilities and their families rely on the effective, high-quality implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to support a lifetime of success.
Make no mistake about it, IDEA — and the rights and protections it affords — impacts a child’s future, how they view themselves as learners today and leaders tomorrow. In fact, the National Center for Educational Outcomes estimates that 85–90% of children with disabilities can be expected to achieve at grade-level when they are provided with the best instruction, supports, and accommodations. Indeed, the promise of IDEA rests with the full implementation of the law.
High-quality implementation of IDEA starts with a clear understanding of the law’s requirements, and that is why OSEP recently released the most comprehensive guidance package on IDEA’s discipline and behavior requirements since the law was reauthorized in 2004.
As our country’s first African American OSEP Director, and as the parent of a child with a disability, this guidance holds special meaning to me. It gives hope to parents, strategies to educators, and direction to state and local leadership.
Perhaps, most importantly, it motivates us at the federal, state, district, school, [...]