Part B

The section of IDEA that provides services for infants and toddlers (birth through age 2) with disabilities or developmental delays. Part C services are delivered through an Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) and typically provided in the child's natural environment (home, daycare). At age 3, children may transition to Part B services.

The federal law that guarantees all children with disabilities access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). IDEA requires schools to find, evaluate, and serve children with disabilities from birth through age 21. It establishes the right to an Individualized Education Program (IEP) and provides procedural safeguards for families.

The right of every child with a disability to receive special education and related services at no cost to the family. "Appropriate" means the education must be reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances, as established by the Supreme Court in Endrew F. v. Douglas County (2017).

A written plan developed for each child eligible for special education services. The IEP describes the child's present levels of performance, measurable annual goals, the special education and related services to be provided, and how progress will be measured. It is a legally binding document that schools must follow.