What Is FAPE?

If you are just entering the advocacy world, you have probably noticed that there are a lot of acronyms.  IEP, IDEA, FAPE, LRS, ESY, and the list goes on, and on, and on...

I plan on getting an acronym list up for you to help translate what all of this means.

However, I thought that a good starting point would be to explain where the cornerstone of my advocacy work, and all education advocacy work, stems from.

FAPE.  In it's most simplistic form, the four letters stand for Free Appropriate Public Education for students with disabilities.  It is a legal right for individuals with disabilities living in the US to receive a free and appropriate public education.  FAPE is protected under IDEA (yes, another acronym!) which stands for the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.  It is the law that guarantees educational civil rights for individuals with disabilities.  FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education) is the fundamental requirement of IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities education Act).

If you would like to see the full explanation on the US Department of Education's website, you can go here.  Additionally, Wrightslaw has a wealth of information available.

When going through my advocacy training, it was explained that FAPE and IDEA were like the foundation of a house that had been put in place by the Federal Government.  This made perfect sense to me.  Think about it: Federal law guarantees educational civil rights for people with disabilities, the foundation of the "home".  Additional requirements and regulations are then instituted on the state and local levels - otherwise known as the walls, roof, etc.

FAPE means something different to every child it protects.  What one child needs may not necessarily work for a second child who has a similar challenges and abilities.  Therefore, it is important that every child with special needs be assessed on an individual basis, and that educators, parents, and advocates work closely together to determine what educational setting and accommodations will optimize the individual's ability to learn.

I know, it sounds like a LOT, right?

Fortunately, the laws provide a lot of room for opportunity as long as the important partners in the child's educational process are willing to take the time to assess, evaluate, and explore options in a thoughtful, organized manner.

FAPE is intended to be "bank blind" meaning that special education and related services are provided to the student at no cost to the parent or guardian.  One of the most common arguments from public educators is that they don't "have the funding" to provide a specific service or accommodation.  This reason alone is why it is critically important that we continue to raise awareness of the financial challenges and work towards identifying problem solving solutions that are facing our public school systems.

FAPE is a legal right.  It provides the Right to Learn for all children who have special needs and unique abilities.

For more information on FAPE, please see the following sources:
Federal Department of Education
The FAPE Site
Special Education Lawers
Understanding Special Education

Georgia Resources:
GA DOE (this will bring up a search page that has the manual available for free download)