Serving children with disabilities in private and parochial schools

Although the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (IDEA), legal precedence, and the U.S. Department of Education interpretations indicate that public schools must provide the opportunity for "equitable participation" for students with disabilities attending private schools, the nature, extent, and location for service delivery are still debated. The purpose of this article was to examine the roles and responsibilities of public schools in providing services to children with disabilities placed in private and parochial schools within the legal parameters of IDEA. Public schools appear to have considerable flexibility in providing on-site services using IDEA funds as long as they are within parameters set forth by rulings of three courts of appeals, although categorical denial of services is prohibited. Furthermore, according to the 1997 IDEA amendments, Child Find activities must include private and parochial schools.