Legal Definitions - FAPE

FAPE stands for Free Appropriate Public Education.

This is a fundamental right guaranteed to eligible children with disabilities under the federal law known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). FAPE ensures that every child with a disability receives specialized educational instruction and related services designed to meet their unique needs, at no cost to their parents, within the public school system. The education provided must be appropriate to the child's individual circumstances, allowing them to make meaningful educational progress and prepare for further education, employment, and independent living.

• Example 1: Accessible Learning Environment

  A high school student named Maya uses a wheelchair due to a physical disability. To ensure Maya receives a FAPE, her public school installs ramps, modifies restrooms to be wheelchair-accessible, and ensures her classrooms are located on an accessible floor or that an elevator is available for her use. The school also provides a specialized desk that accommodates her wheelchair. This demonstrates FAPE because the school is providing the necessary physical accommodations, free of charge, to ensure Maya can access her education and participate fully in the public school environment, tailored to her specific physical needs.

• Example 2: Specialized Instruction for Learning Differences

  Liam, a third-grade student, has been diagnosed with dyslexia, which significantly impacts his reading ability. To provide Liam with a FAPE, his public school offers him daily sessions with a reading specialist who uses a multisensory, structured literacy program. The school also provides him with text-to-speech software for his assignments and extended time on tests. These services are provided without any cost to Liam's parents. This illustrates FAPE because the school is offering specialized instruction and assistive technology, free of charge, to address Liam's specific learning disability and enable him to progress academically in the public school system.

• Example 3: Related Services for Communication Needs

  A kindergarten student named Chloe has a significant speech impediment that makes it difficult for her to communicate effectively with her teachers and peers. As part of her FAPE, the public school provides Chloe with weekly one-on-one speech therapy sessions with a licensed speech-language pathologist during school hours. The therapist works on articulation and language development, and these sessions are fully funded by the school district. This exemplifies FAPE because the school is providing a "related service"—speech therapy—that is necessary for Chloe to benefit from her education, free of charge, within the public school setting, addressing her unique communication needs.