Free Appropriate Public Education - FAPE and Special Education Programs

Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, schools are required to provide a Free Appropriate Public Education to children with learning disabilities and other educational disabilities in public schools. Educators often refer to this requirement only by its acronym: FAPE.

FAPE is determined on an individual basis for each child based on his or her individual assessment and educational needs. Parents and educators work together to develop an Individual Education Program (IEP) for each child with a disability. The IEP includes Specially Designed Instructionand related services. The specific components of the IEP are the school's plan to provide FAPE for the student.

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