What does the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) primarily focus on?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) primarily focuses on ensuring services to children with disabilities. This federal law mandates that all schools provide free appropriate public education (FAPE) tailored to the individual needs of students with disabilities. Under IDEA, children with disabilities are entitled to receive special education and related services that will help them succeed in the general education curriculum alongside their peers. This includes creating individualized education programs (IEPs) that specifically outline the support and resources needed for each child.

The law emphasizes the importance of inclusion and accessibility in education, ensuring that students with disabilities have equal opportunities to participate in school activities and receive the help necessary to thrive academically and socially. IDEA’s provisions also extend to ensure parents are actively involved in the educational decisions affecting their children, reinforcing the idea that collaboration between families and educators is crucial for success.

In contrast, the other options focus on different aspects of educational support and do not align with the central aim of IDEA. For example, providing professional development for teachers relates more to improving teaching practices, improving language proficiency is specific to language skills and not directly connected to disabilities, and supporting low-income students pertains to socioeconomic factors rather than the specific needs of students with disabilities. Thus, the correct answer is grounded in the