What are the two fundamental requirements of IDEA?

The two fundamental requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) are indeed free and appropriate public education (FAPE) and least restrictive environment (LRE). FAPE ensures that students with disabilities receive an education that is tailored to their individual needs at no cost to their families. This principle mandates that special education and related services must be provided to enable these students to access the general curriculum and make progress academically.

Least restrictive environment refers to the requirement that students with disabilities should be educated with their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate. This provision promotes the inclusion of students with disabilities in general education settings and minimizes the removal of these students from their regular classrooms, thereby fostering social integration and learning alongside peers.

Other options, while they may relate to aspects of special education, do not capture the core mandates of IDEA as succinctly or accurately. Standardized testing and parental notification do play roles in the broader educational framework but are not fundamental requirements of IDEA. Similarly, inclusion and behavioral intervention plans, as well as instructional accommodations and resource access, are important elements in supporting students with disabilities but do not constitute the basic foundational principles set forth in IDEA.