Federal IDEA Regulations: 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. 

A Parent's Guide to Special Education 

A Parent's Guide to Special Education (Spanish) 

To ensure students with disabilities receive a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment, there are essential and fundamental procedural rights and protections afforded to parents by the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the federal regulations that implement IDEA [34 CFR Part 300], Article 89 of the New York State (NYS) Education Law, and Part 200 of the NYS Commissioner’s Regulations. 

The Special Education in New York State for Children Ages 3–21: A Parent’s Guide is intended to provide parents and persons with parental relationship with:

• a broad overview of the special education process in NYS; and
• a resource to help understand some of the rights and protections provided by federal and New York State law and regulations to parents and students throughout the process.