The Bureau of Exceptional Education and Student Services supports school districts and others in their efforts to provide exceptional student education programs for students ages 3 - 21 who have been determined eligible for exceptional student education (ESE).
Each school district is responsible for providing services to students who are eligible for the following ESE programs.
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Deaf or Hard-of-Hearing (DHH)
- Ages Birth-5 Years
- Birth Through Two Years
- Established Conditions (EC): Ages Birth Through 2 Years Old
- Developmentally Delayed (DD): Ages Birth Through 2 Years Old
- Ages Three through Five Years
- Developmentally Delayed (DD): Ages 3-5 Years
- Birth Through Two Years
- Dual-Sensory Impairment (DSI): Deaf-Blind
- Emotional/Behavioral Disability (E/BD)
- Gifted
- Homebound or Hospitalized (HH)
- Intellectual Disability (InD)
- Language Impairment (LI)
- Other Health Impairment (OHI)
- Orthopedic Impairment (OI)
- Specific Learning Disability (SLD)
- Speech Impairment (SI)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Visual Impairment (VI)
Each school district must establish and make publicly available their policies and procedures which are used to provide services and supports to their students with disabilities. More information on these policies and procedures can be found at the following link: //www.fldoe.org/academics/exceptional-student-edu/monitoring/.
The bureau provides additional support to school districts and families through many state and federally funded discretionary projects. Please see below for links to frequently visited bureau-managed discretionary projects, and for more information, please visit: //www.fldoe.org/academics/exceptional-student-edu/grants-management.stml.
Welcome to the U.S. Department of Education’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) website, which brings together IDEA information and resources from the Department and our grantees.
Whether you are a student, parent, educator, service provider, or grantee, you are here because you care about children with disabilities and their families and want to find information and explore resources on infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.
Thank you for visiting the IDEA website. If you have feedback regarding the site, please let us know on our blog.
Every student who gets special education is covered by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). That federal law spells out what all states must do to meet the needs of students with disabilities. But in many areas, IDEA leaves room for states to interpret the rules and pass their own laws on how to apply them.
State laws can’t contradict IDEA, and they can’t provide less than the federal law requires. But they can offer more protections to kids and parents. This table shows examples of what IDEA provides for, and how states can add their own special education laws to meet students’ needs.
Federal Law (IDEA)State Laws
Who is eligible for special education
IDEA says students who have one of 13 types of disabilities may qualify for special education. To be eligible, the disability must “adversely affect” their educational performance.
States must follow IDEA, but they can have guidelines on who qualifies for each disability type.
For example, qualifying under the category of “specific learning disability” can differ by state. States can even allow it to vary by school district within the state. States may also use different models for deciding if your child is eligible. That’s why a learning difference that qualifies as a “specific learning disability” in one state may not in another.
Free appropriate public education (FAPE) and least restrictive environment (LRE)
IDEA says every child with a disability is entitled to a free and appropriate education.
Kids with disabilities must also receive special education in the LRE. There must be a continuum of placements available, from self-contained to inclusion classrooms.
States must provide FAPE, but they have leeway in what instruction or services to provide. For instance, states can decide on the types of educational programs to use. And many different programs could be “appropriate.”
States must educate children with disabilities in the LRE. But states can choose how to structure their schools as long as they provide special education in several types of placements.
Procedural safeguards
This is the area where IDEA is the most detailed. IDEA lays out the process and steps that schools and parents go through for evaluation, IEP meetings and dispute resolution.
For example, it requires schools to complete an evaluation within 60 days.
As long as states follow the overall process in IDEA, they have leeway to determine some of the details.
One example is time limits. For example, instead of the 60-day time limit for evaluations, Washington state law gives schools just 35 days to complete one after parental consent.
Early intervention
IDEA provides for early intervention for kids with developmental delays or specific health conditions. But it doesn’t actually define delay, state who is eligible or spell out who pays for what services.
Each state decides what constitutes a delay, who is eligible for services and who pays for what.
Some states are more generous than others. Some pay for physical therapy or family training. Others require parents to cover some costs.
Age of eligibility
IDEA says educational services must be provided to students with disabilities who are in school until the age of 21.
States can choose to limit or extend eligibility for kids who are 18 or older. Most states provide services until the age of 21. But a few end services earlier or later.
Age of transition services
Federal law says schools must start transition planning for after high school at the age of 16.
Some states choose to start earlier. In Massachusetts, for instance, schools must provide transition services starting at age 14.
How can you find out about your state’s special education laws? Many states offer handbooks or guides. Check online, contact your school district or state department of special education, or visit your state’s Parent Training and Information Center (PTI).
Understanding both the federal and state laws will help you advocate for your child at school. Learn more about which laws do what. And explore 10 tips for being an advocate for your child.