Glossary of Special Education Terms

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA):   The federal law that mandates special education services and the rights of students with special education needs and their parents.

Multidisciplinary Evaluation (MDE):  The evaluation process to gather information which is used to determine if a student has a disability or is mentally gifted according to state and federal definitions and is in need of special education.

Comprehensive Evaluation Report (CER):  The report that is compiled and written by the Multidisciplinary Evaluation Team (including parents) following a Multidisciplinary Evaluation.

Individualized Education Program (IEP):   The plan written by the IEP Team (including parents) that specifically describes the programs and related services necessary for a Free and Appropriate Public Education for the exceptional student.

Free and Appropriate Public Education(FAPE):   A program of education and related services for an eligible student that is designed to meet the student's special education needs and allows the student to make meaningful progress in the Least Restrictive Environment.

Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): Part of the federal and state law that deals with determining an exceptional student's placement.  To the maximum extent appropriate, disabled students are to be educated with students who are not disabled.  The removal of a student from the regular education environment occurs only when the disability is such that the student cannot satisfactorily be educated in the regular class setting or the student exhibits behaviors that impede his/her learning or that of others.