A concise guide to the special education laws every educator needs to know! Federal and state laws, combined with a number of important court cases, have brought major reforms in special education. But laws, rules, and regulations are always changing. Practices that were followed yesterday may be illegal today. How can you be sure you are complying with the law? The Legal Foundations of Special Education summarizes landmark court cases and provides an overview of the most influential laws affecting special education services, including the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA), its 2004 reauthorization, and the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB). Highlights of this helpful guide to special education law include:

• Key vocabulary terms
• Summaries of the court cases and laws that affect every general and special educator
• A pretest and posttest to help readers assess their understanding of current legal terms and practices