• Schools in Alabama must follow federal special education laws.school building image by palms from Fotolia.com
  
  The Alabama State Department of Education oversees special education programs, including early intervention preschool programs, inclusion programs, speech programs, occupational diploma programs and programs that service special needs children in private schools. The Alabama State Department of Education and all of its schools must complete with federal special education laws.
  
  

IDEA

• Alabama schools must comply with regulations set forth in the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). This law protects all children with special needs from birth until high school graduation. This law requires all children to receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE). It also requires that schools place children in their least-restrictive environment (LRE).
  
  

504

• Another law protecting the rights of disabled students in Alabama is the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Section 504 of this law prohibits schools from discriminating against disabled students and must give those students equal learning opportunities. This means that schools must accommodate disabled children so that they can attain the same level achievement as their non-disabled peers.
  
  

NCLB

• The No Child Left Behind law (NCLB) requires Alabama schools to employ highly-qualified teachers and to use reading instruction that has been proven effective through scientific instruction. Also, NCLB requires schools to test students annually to demonstrate proficiency. Special education students, except those with severe impairments, take the same test as other students. They may receive some allowable accommodations, such as reading portions of the tests and allowing students to take the test in small groups.