BUILDING AND SUSTAINING INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES - Aligned with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and Part B of the IDEA - January 2025

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai

Guidance issued by the U.S. Department of Education explains how the ESEA and Part B of IDEA support implementation of inclusive educational practices for students with disabilities. It frames federal requirements and guiding principles for SEAs, LEAs, schools, educators, and the public, emphasizing access to learning environments that match individual needs. The introduction highlights the equity focus of ESEA and the IDEA’s FAPE in the least restrictive environment, including IEP requirements and alignment with challenging state academic standards.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages54

Reading Time2 h 16 min

AccessFree to download

Introduction

Description of Inclusive Educational Practices

ESEA and IDEA Requirements that Align with Inclusive Educational Practices

Guiding Principles for Implementing Inclusive Educational Practices

Technical Assistance Resources

Endnotes

BUILDING AND SUSTAINING INCLUSIVE EDUCATIONAL PRACTICES ALIGNED WITH THE ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION ACT OF 1965 (ESEA) AND PART B OF THE INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES EDUCATION ACT (IDEA) OFFICE OF SPECIAL EDUCATION AND REHABILITATIVE SERVICES OFFICE OF ELEMENTARY AND SECONDARY EDUCATION U. S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION JANUARY 2025 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ......................................................................................................................................1 Description of Inclusive Educational Practices .....................................................................................3 ESEA and IDEA Requirements that Align with Inclusive Educational Practices ......................................5 Creating Educational Systems to Support Inclusive Educational Practices that are Intentionally Designed and Implemented .............................................................................................. 5 Teaching and Learning: Leveraging Systems to Support Inclusive Educational Practices............................................................................................................... 7 Improving Outcomes through General and Special Education Collaboration ..................................... 16 Improving Learning Environments through Inclusive Educational Practices ....................................... 19 Guiding Principles for Implementing Inclusive Educational Practices .................................................23 Inclusive Educational Practices Foster Belonging, Create Opportunity, and Transform Education and Lives ............................................................................................................ 23 Create a Culture for Inclusive Educational Practices Through Leadership and Shared Vision .............................................................................................................. 24 Meaningfully Design and Systemically Support Implementation of Inclusive Educational Practices............................................................................................................. 28 Build and Enhance Family, Community, and Agency Partnerships to Support Inclusive Educational Practices ............................................................................................... 32 Leverage Funding and Resources to Support Inclusive Educational Practices..................................... 36 Technical Assistance Resources ........................................................................................................38 Endnotes .........................................................................................................................................44 INTRODUCTION Our nation has demonstrated a steadfast commitment to providing every child with an equal opportunity to an education. Two Federal laws that address the education for children with disabilities are the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA)1 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), signed into law in 1965 and 1975, 2 respectively. Together, the ESEA and the IDEA provide the system and structure to ensure that children with disabilities 3 have access to learning environments that meet their individual needs. The U.S. Department of Education (Department) is issuing this guidance to provide State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), schools, educators,4 and members of the public with a better understanding of the ESEA and the IDEA requirements5, 6, 7 and guiding principles to support the implementation of inclusive educational practices for students with disabilities. The ESEA was signed into law in 1965 by President Lyndon Baines Johnson, who believed that “full educational opportunity” should be “our ﬁrst national goal.” The ESEA has focused on advancing equity and upholding critical protections for America’s stu

FAQs

What laws form the basis for inclusive educational practices in this guidance?

The guidance aligns with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA) and Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Together, they provide the system and structure for ensuring access to appropriate learning environments for students with disabilities.

How do IDEA and ESEA requirements relate to students with disabilities?

IDEA requires a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment, supported by an individualized education program (IEP). ESEA requires states and local educational agencies to apply the same challenging state academic standards to all public schools and students, including students with disabilities.

Who is the guidance intended to support?

It is intended for State educational agencies (SEAs), local educational agencies (LEAs), schools, educators, and members of the public to better understand ESEA and IDEA requirements and guiding principles for implementing inclusive educational practices.

Oct 15, 2026

Uploaded by Fahsai