Which federal law mandates services for children with disabilities?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the federal law that specifically mandates services for children with disabilities. This law ensures that all children with disabilities have access to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) that meets their individual needs. It outlines the requirements for developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), which are tailored to each child's educational requirements and are designed to provide special education and related services.

IDEA emphasizes the importance of providing services in the least restrictive environment, ensuring that children with disabilities are educated alongside their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent possible. The law has significantly influenced how schools approach the education of children with disabilities, mandating not only the provision of educational services but also procedural safeguards for families.

In contrast, while the other laws mentioned, such as the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act, address broader civil rights and anti-discrimination protections for individuals with disabilities, they do not specifically mandate educational services. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) focuses more on K-12 education systems and accountability measures but does not specifically deal with the rights or services for children with disabilities like IDEA does.