Court Decisions and IDEA 1997 Compliance Issues that Affect Special Education Programs in Rural Schools

This article reviews court decisions and compliance issues of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 1997, that impact rural public school special education programs. IDEA funding, alternative placement options, and qualitative standard requirements. Select elements of the IDEA 1997 Amendments are of particular importance to rural schools. Those elements are funding compliance requirements, changes in the identification and evaluation of eligible students with disabilities, and the qualitative standards required for providing special education and related services. Rural schools do not receive special compliance exemptions under the IDEA. The article presents court decisions in which litigation has produced guidelines for school administrators regarding use of resources, accommodations, modifications, and qualitative standards in rural special education programs.