Core IDEA Mandate

FAPE

Free Appropriate Public Education

Definition

FAPE is the core IDEA entitlement (20 U.S.C. §1401(9); 34 CFR §300.17) guaranteeing every eligible child with a disability special education and related services provided at public expense, meeting state standards, and delivered under an IEP reasonably calculated to enable appropriate progress. The Supreme Court clarified the substantive standard in Endrew F. v. Douglas County School District (2017), 580 U.S. 386.

Regulatory Citation

20 U.S.C. §1401(9); 34 CFR §300.17; Endrew F. v. Douglas County Sch. Dist. RE-1, 580 U.S. 386 (2017)

Example in Practice

A district providing minimal IEP services that yield only trivial progress violates FAPE under Endrew F. The Court rejected the prior "merely more than de minimis" standard as insufficient.

Key Research Citations

·Zirkel & Karanxha (2024, J Special Education Leadership) — 25-year FAPE case-law analysis
·Moran (2020, NYU J Legislation & Public Policy) — 78.3% district win rate in FAPE hearings

Full bibliography available on the Research page.

Related Terms

IEP LRE PLAAFP

Back to glossary

This glossary entry is educational. It is not legal or clinical advice. Consult a qualified attorney or licensed clinician before making decisions that rely on this summary.