The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children. Children and youth ages 3 through 21 receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.
Data, Systems, and Applications
Access support and resources for special education applications.
Dispute Resolution
Learn about the special education mediation process as well as formal dispute resolution.
Early Childhood Transition
Topics would include early childhood transition, initial evaluation, referral, and extended IFSP option.
Grants and Fiscal Resources for LEAs
Information about Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) fiscal policy and grants information.
Laws, Regulations, Policies, and Guidance
Read about local special education law, policy, and regulations, and find notices about policy hearings and public comment.
Monitoring, Compliance, Data, and Reports
Information about federal IDEA reporting and LEA monitoring related to special education.
Nonpublic Placement
Find policy and procedure information for placement of students with disabilities to a nonpublic educational setting. Access information about nonpublic data systems, monitoring and payment.
OSSE’s Special Education Performance Report (SEPR)
OSSE’s Special Education Performance Report (SEPR)" and descriptor text: "The annual Special Education Performance Report (SEPR) is designed to evaluate the performance of a local education agency’s (LEA’s) special education program and pinpoint the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) supports for the LEA to build educator and system capacity to serve students with disabilities.
Parents and Families
Resources for parents and families of students with disabilities.
Training and Technical Assistance Resources
Explore professional development and technical assistance resources offered by OSSE to educators, schools and LEAs.
Transportation for Students with Disabilities
Connect with OSSE’s Student Transportation division, which transports eligible students with disabilities to and from school.
Key Special Education Documents
- OSSE's Roadmap for Accelerating Academic Outcomes for Students with Disabilities
- Students with Disabilities in the District of Columbia: A Landscape Analysis (2019)
- Rights of Parents of Students with Disabilities: IDEA Part B Notice of Procedural Safeguards
- Child Find Dear Colleague Letter
- Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)