"Special Education" means "specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability." 

• Both federal law and Maryland state law require school systems in Maryland to provide individually designed educational plans (IEP)for all children with disabilities from kindergarten through high school. 
• The school systems also have to provide transportation and other services that the child needs to benefit from special education.

Where do I find information?

• "Special Education, Rights and Wrongs," a handbook for parents by the Maryland Disability Law Center, is an excellent starting point for a parent to understand the laws about special education.  Copies of this handbook are available.  Call 410-727-6352, extension 245. One copy per family is free. Look at the Table of Contents to see what topics are included in the handbook.
• Look at the Maryland Department of Education web site.  Some topics include: 
  • What is Special Education / Early Intervention Services?
  • If you believe your child requires special education, who should you contact?
  • How do I file a complaint with the Maryland State Department of Education (SEA).
• Look at the U.S. Department of Education's web site. 
  There is an excellent collection of materials on all aspects of special education at the page called "My Child's Special Needs - Disabilities." Especially useful links are:
  • A Guide to the Individualized Education Program (IEP)
  • National Information Center for Children & Youth with Disabilities
  • Rights & Responsibilities of Parents of Children With Disabilities
  • Organizations in Maryland that address disability-related issues.

• Maryland and Federal law
• School discipline
• Enrolling the child in a school

Last legal review (no legal content): 3/31/08 (PLL/M.A.J.)

About this website. The Maryland State Law Library, a court-related agency of the Maryland Judiciary, sponsors this site. The website was developed (1999-2007) as part of an access to justice initiative by the Maryland Legal Assistance Network (MLAN) in collaboration with a number of legal services providers serving low and moderate income Marylanders.  In the absence of file-specific attribution or copyright, the Maryland State Law Library may hold the copyright to parts of this website. You are free to copy the information for your own use or for other non-commercial purposes with the following language “Source: Maryland's People’s Law Library – www.peoples-law.org. © Maryland State Law Library, 2007.”

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