FAPE stands for Free Appropriate Public Education, which is a legal right guaranteed to students with disabilities under federal law. The right to FAPE requires schools to provide special education and related services to meet the unique needs of a child. The "appropriate" component means that this education must be designed to meet the individual educational needs of the student as determined by an Individualized Education Program (IEP) team. The goal of FAPE is to ensure that students with disabilities receive an educational experience comparable to those without disabilities.
To be eligible for FAPE, a child must be evaluated as having one or more of the disabilities listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and determined to be in need of special education and related services. The disabilities specified in IDEA include, but are not limited to, autism, deafness, blindness, emotional disturbance, intellectual disability, and specific learning disabilities.
FAPE is a powerful legal right for students with disabilities, and schools are required to provide it regardless of the nature or severity of the students disability. If a student is denied their right to FAPE, their parents can advocate for them to receive all of the services to which they are entitled.
