Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (Public Law 101-476) was enacted in 1990.  IDEA consists of amendments to an earlier law, namely the Education of All Handicapped Children Act of 1978.

IDEA is a federal law that governs the education of students with disabilities in the public schools.  IDEA specifies physical education as a required educational service, and further defines physical education as "the development of physical and motor fitness; fundamental motor skills and patterns; and skills in aquatics, dance, and individual and group games and sports, including intramural and lifetime sports."  This provision of IDEA facilitates the participation of students with disabilities in public school intramural and interscholastic sports programs.