Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires public schools to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to children with disabilities ages 3 through 21. Part B establishes 13 disability categories under which children may qualify for special education and related services, including autism, intellectual disability, speech or language impairment, and emotional disturbance. Key rights include evaluation at no cost, an Individualized Education Program, placement in the least restrictive environment, procedural safeguards (including the right to dispute decisions through due process), and transition planning beginning by age 16. States receive federal funding to support Part B services, but implementation details vary by state and district.
Part B services are your child's school entitlement. They exist independently of waiver services, so families should pursue both simultaneously. EDUhelp helps you track IEP timelines alongside waiver deadlines.