IDEA '97 requires the federal government to do a better job implementing and enforcing the law. The law gives the Department of Education greater enforcement authority by allowing the Secretary to withhold all or part of IDEA funds from a state. When the Department determines that a state does not comply with the act in some way, it can refer these issues to the Justice Department. The new law also requires the Department to use what it has learned from past and present investments and to target future funding to enhance the capacity of schools and communities to work effectively with disabled children. Improving results IDEA '97 builds on educational research of more than 22 years and contains provisions designed to improved educational results for students with disabilities, making certain assumptions.
Early intervention is important.
Results with infants and toddlers in preschool programs have demonstrated the importance of reaching a child with a disability early. Children who receive early intervention services are less likely to be placed outside the home and are better able to learn once they reach school age. Research has shown that waiting until third or fourth grade to refer children to special education can be too late. Appropriate interventions need to happen early, when it is clear that a child needs help and at a time, developmentally, when the child can profit most from it. However, this raises concerns about classifying children too early.