The law requires that IEP's include the program modifications and supports for the child and teacher to enable the child to succeed in the classroom. Whether the child is a minority student or not, IDEA 97 emphasizes that for most students with disabilities, special education is not a place. Rather, special education is a set of services to support the needs of students with disabilities to succeed in general education classrooms. The new law directs more federal dollars to school districts and allows them greater flexibility to meet the needs of students with disabilities in their schools. States and other public agencies will continue their level of support to school districts.
All students deserve safe and well-disciplined schools.
For the first time, the new law sets out and clarifies how school disciplinary rules and the obligation to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education to disabled students fit together. The law explicitly requires that students who need it receive instruction and services to help them follow the rules and get along in school. However, the law also recognizes that if students bring a weapon or illegal drugs to school, schools have the right to remove students with disabilities to an alternative educational setting for up to 45 days . The new law permits schools to go to a hearing officer for an injunction to remove a child for up to 45 days if the child is considered substantially likely to injure himself or others. Previously, only a court had that authority.