IDEA provides special education for those children who meet the eligibility criteria for one of a number of categories. If the child meets the criteria listed under one of these categories, the disabling condition adversely affects educational performance, and he requires special education, the child may be eligible to receive services under this law. A multidisciplinary evaluation procedure is required to determine if a child is eligible for special education under IDEA and requires that the child who is eligible be considered for full or partial reevaluation at least every three years. The evaluation team must also consider whether the child requires assistive technology devices or services. IDEA requires that the school district considers the findings of outside evaluators and, under some circumstances, pay for independent evaluations.
Parental consent is required before any evaluation begins.
If an evaluation is warranted, it must be provided at no cost to the parents. Once the IEP is completed, parents or the school can request changes to it, but no changes can be made without the parents being informed and having an opportunity to request an impartial due process hearing to challenge the decision. The IEP will be reviewed each year with any needed changes made. Parents are members of their child's eligibility, IEP and placement teams. IDEA provides procedural safeguards that Section 504 does not.