Its official designation was Public Law 94-142. The spirit of the law intends that the education of a special needs child be appropriate to the child's needs.
Parental input is important in determining what is appropriate.
The education is provided at public expense and under the supervision of the state educational agency, but not necessarily an education within the public schools. This refers to the setting of the child's education. That setting should not restrict the child's potential for growth. IDEA requires public agencies to establish procedures to ensure that to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled, and that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. Federal Register, Vol.