Changes over the years

Public Law 94-142 has been amended and reauthorized several times since 1975. In 1986 was amended to Public Law 99-457. One of the amendments required states to provide disability services starting from birth. The 1990 Amendment, Public Law 101-476, renamed PL 94-142 to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The 1997 amendments of Public Law 105-17 focused on providing transitional services for individuals with disabilities exiting from high school and entering into adulthood. The amendments articulate that transitional services should look into connecting the students to appropriate employment opportunities and, or community resources. It also outlined that individualized education plans needed to have short-term goals. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act was reauthorized in 2004 and underwent several changes. Some of the bigger mandates include special education teachers needed to become Highly Qualified Teachers. In providing free appropriate public education, states also need to create a plan and set targets for students to meet. Failure to do so will result in federal sanctions such as the loss of funds.