Department releases COVID-19, IDEA-related Q-and-A

By the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services

WASHINGTON, DC (March 12, 2020) – The Department of Education released a question-and-answer document pertaining to students with disabilities and COVID-19 today.

The Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services’ (OSERS) document answers questions schools might have about students with disabilities and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as related to the COVID-19, also known as the coronavirus, outbreak.

“In order to ensure that students with disabilities continue to receive the services guaranteed by IDEA and Section 504, the Department has published a Q&A document for state and local educational authorities,” the department said in a press release. “This information answers the most common questions schools have about when and how they must provide instruction, including when to consider use of online or virtual instruction and other curriculum-based instructional activities.”

The department press release also included the announcement of COVID-19 outbreak guidance related to the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA).

The release stated the department would announce additional guidance in the coming days and post it to the department’s COVID-19 page.

View departments’ press release.

View the department’s COVID-19 information and resources page.

View the OSERS Q-and-A on providing services to children with disabilities during coronavirus outbreak.
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View department’s ESSA and coronavirus guidance.

View the department’s FERPA and coronavirus Q-&A document.

Last modified on April 18, 2022