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FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education)

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FAPE is the right of every eligible child with a disability to special education and related services, at no cost, designed around the child's needs.

Topic: IDEA, law and procedure

In plain terms

FAPE is the core promise of IDEA. "Free" means at no cost to the family. "Appropriate" does not mean the best possible program; it means an education built around the child's needs. In Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (2017), the Supreme Court said an IEP must be reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances.

How it shows up in an IEP

Ambitious, measurable goals and honest progress data are how a team shows that an IEP is working. When progress stalls for months, the team should revise the goals or services rather than wait for the annual review.

Example

A student's reading goal shows almost no growth after two grading periods. The team meets, reviews the fluency graph, adds a daily intervention session, and writes a new short-term target.

Not the same as LRE

FAPE is about what the student is taught and the services provided; LRE is about where, and with whom, that happens. Read the definition of LRE.

The rule

Federal reference: 34 CFR §300.17, 34 CFR §300.101.

Related terms

  • IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act)IDEA is the federal law that guarantees eligible children with disabilities a free appropriate public education and sets the rules for IEPs.
  • Endrew F. standardThe Endrew F. standard is the 2017 Supreme Court rule that an IEP must be reasonably calculated to enable progress appropriate to the child's circumstances.
  • LRE (Least Restrictive Environment)LRE is the IDEA requirement that students with disabilities learn alongside peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate for each student.
  • IEP (Individualized Education Program)An IEP is the written plan, developed by a team that includes the parents, describing the special education and services an eligible student will receive.
  • Specially designed instruction (SDI)Specially designed instruction is teaching adapted in content, method or delivery to meet a student's disability-related needs.

This page describes special education terms and federal rules in general terms and is not legal advice. Our editorial policy explains how IEP Atlas writes and reviews content. Browse all 244 terms.