Title 20, EducationRelease 119-110
§1401 Definitions
Title 20 › CHAPTER 33 — EDUCATION OF INDIVIDUALS WITH DISABILITIES › SUBCHAPTER I — GENERAL PROVISIONS › § 1401
Summary
Defines many key words used in the chapter about special education and services for children with disabilities so schools, families, and agencies use the same meanings. It explains what items, services, people, schools, and programs are covered and when certain things are excluded. Assistive technology device: an item or product that helps a child with a disability do tasks, but not a surgically implanted medical device; Assistive technology service: help a child pick, get, use, or maintain such devices, and training for families and professionals; Child with a disability: a child with listed conditions who needs special education; Child ages 3–9: may include children with state‑defined developmental delays who need services; Educational service agency: a regional public agency that helps local schools manage programs; Elementary school: a nonprofit day or residential school that teaches elementary grades under State law; Equipment: machinery, built‑in items, and other things needed for a school to work; Excess costs: costs above the local average per‑student spending after subtracting certain federal funds (including subchapter II and parts A of titles I and III of the ESEA) and similar State/local funds; Free appropriate public education (FAPE): special education and related services provided at public expense, meeting State standards, including appropriate preschool/elementary/secondary education, and following an IEP; Homeless children: meaning given in 42 U.S.C. 11434a; Indian/Indian tribe: members and tribes as described; IEP: a written plan for each child with a disability; IFSP and infant/toddler with a disability: meanings given in other sections; Institution of higher education: meaning in section 1001 and includes certain tribal colleges; Limited English proficient: same as “English learner” in ESEA; Local educational agency (LEA): the public school board or authority that runs local schools, including educational service agencies and certain BIA‑funded schools under conditions listed; Native language: the language normally used by the person or the child’s parents; Nonprofit: an organization whose earnings do not benefit private owners; Outlying areas: U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Northern Mariana Islands; Parent: a natural, adoptive, or foster parent (with limits), guardian, person acting as parent, or, in some cases, a surrogate; Parent organization/Parent training center: meanings given in other sections; Related services: transportation and supportive services (speech, audiology, psychological, therapy, nursing, counseling, and more) needed so a child can benefit from special education; medical services only for diagnosis/evaluation and exclude surgically implanted devices; Secondary school: a nonprofit school providing secondary education up to grade 12; Secretary: the U.S. Secretary of Education; Special education: specially designed instruction at no cost to parents, in many settings including physical education; Specific learning disability: a disorder in basic psychological processes affecting language or math, including dyslexia, but not primarily caused by other listed conditions; State: the 50 States, D.C., Puerto Rico, and the outlying areas; State educational agency: the State board or agency in charge of public K–12 schools; Supplementary aids and services: supports that help children with disabilities learn with nondisabled peers; Transition services: coordinated activities to help a student move from school to post‑school life, based on the student’s needs and goals; Universal design: meaning given in another law; Ward of the State: a child in foster care or custody of a public child welfare agency, with one foster‑parent exception.
Full Legal Text
Title 20, §1401
Education, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
Except as otherwise provided, in this chapter:
(1)Assistive technology device
(A)In general
The term “assistive technology device” means any item, piece of equipment, or product system, whether acquired commercially off the shelf, modified, or customized, that is used to increase, maintain, or improve functional capabilities of a child with a disability.
(B)Exception
The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device.
(2)Assistive technology service
The term “assistive technology service” means any service that directly assists a child with a disability in the selection, acquisition, or use of an assistive technology device. Such term includes—
(A)the evaluation of the needs of such child, including a functional evaluation of the child in the child’s customary environment;
(B)purchasing, leasing, or otherwise providing for the acquisition of assistive technology devices by such child;
(C)selecting, designing, fitting, customizing, adapting, applying, maintaining, repairing, or replacing assistive technology devices;
(D)coordinating and using other therapies, interventions, or services with assistive technology devices, such as those associated with existing education and rehabilitation plans and programs;
(E)training or technical assistance for such child, or, where appropriate, the family of such child; and
(F)training or technical assistance for professionals (including individuals providing education and rehabilitation services), employers, or other individuals who provide services to, employ, or are otherwise substantially involved in the major life functions of such child.
(3)Child with a disability
(A)In general
The term “child with a disability” means a child—
(i)with intellectual disabilities, hearing impairments (including deafness), speech or language impairments, visual impairments (including blindness), serious emotional disturbance (referred to in this chapter as “emotional disturbance”), orthopedic impairments, autism, traumatic brain injury, other health impairments, or specific learning disabilities; and
(ii)who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.
(B)Child aged 3 through 9
The term “child with a disability” for a child aged 3 through 9 (or any subset of that age range, including ages 3 through 5), may, at the discretion of the State and the local educational agency, include a child—
(i)experiencing developmental delays, as defined by the State and as measured by appropriate diagnostic instruments and procedures, in 1 or more of the following areas: physical development; cognitive development; communication development; social or emotional development; or adaptive development; and
(ii)who, by reason thereof, needs special education and related services.
(4)Repealed. Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9215(ss)(1)(A), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2181
(5)Educational service agency
The term “educational service agency”—
(A)means a regional public multiservice agency—
(i)authorized by State law to develop, manage, and provide services or programs to local educational agencies; and
(ii)recognized as an administrative agency for purposes of the provision of special education and related services provided within public elementary schools and secondary schools of the State; and
(B)includes any other public institution or agency having administrative control and direction over a public elementary school or secondary school.
(6)Elementary school
The term “elementary school” means a nonprofit institutional day or residential school, including a public elementary charter school, that provides elementary education, as determined under State law.
(7)Equipment
The term “equipment” includes—
(A)machinery, utilities, and built-in equipment, and any necessary enclosures or structures to house such machinery, utilities, or equipment; and
(B)all other items necessary for the functioning of a particular facility as a facility for the provision of educational services, including items such as instructional equipment and necessary furniture; printed, published, and audio-visual instructional materials; telecommunications, sensory, and other technological aids and devices; and books, periodicals, documents, and other related materials.
(8)Excess costs
The term “excess costs” means those costs that are in excess of the average annual per-student expenditure in a local educational agency during the preceding school year for an elementary school or secondary school student, as may be appropriate, and which shall be computed after deducting—
(A)amounts received—
(i)under subchapter II;
(ii)under part A of title I of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 6311 et seq.]; and
(iii)under part A of title III of that Act [20 U.S.C. 6811 et seq.]; and
(B)any State or local funds expended for programs that would qualify for assistance under any of those parts.
(9)Free appropriate public education
The term “free appropriate public education” means special education and related services that—
(A)have been provided at public expense, under public supervision and direction, and without charge;
(B)meet the standards of the State educational agency;
(C)include an appropriate preschool, elementary school, or secondary school education in the State involved; and
(D)are provided in conformity with the individualized education program required under section 1414(d) of this title.
(10)Repealed. Pub. L. 114–95, title IX, § 9214(d)(1), Dec. 10, 2015, 129 Stat. 2164
(11)Homeless children
The term “homeless children” has the meaning given the term “homeless children and youths” in section 11434a of title 42.
(12)Indian
The term “Indian” means an individual who is a member of an Indian tribe.
(13)Indian tribe
The term “Indian tribe” means any Federal or State Indian tribe, band, rancheria, pueblo, colony, or community, including any Alaska Native village or regional village corporation (as defined in or established under the Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act (43 U.S.C. 1601 et seq.)).
(14)Individualized education program; IEP
The term “individualized education program” or “IEP” means a written statement for each child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in accordance with section 1414(d) of this title.
(15)Individualized family service plan
The term “individualized family service plan” has the meaning given the term in section 1436 of this title.
(16)Infant or toddler with a disability
The term “infant or toddler with a disability” has the meaning given the term in section 1432 of this title.
(17)Institution of higher education
The term “institution of higher education”—
(A)has the meaning given the term in section 1001 of this title; and
(B)also includes any college or university receiving funding from the Secretary of the Interior under the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978 [25 U.S.C. 1801 et seq.].
(18)Limited English proficient
The term “limited English proficient” has the meaning given the term “English learner” in section 8101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 [20 U.S.C. 7801].
(19)Local educational agency
(A)In general
The term “local educational agency” means a public board of education or other public authority legally constituted within a State for either administrative control or direction of, or to perform a service function for, public elementary schools or secondary schools in a city, county, township, school district, or other political subdivision of a State, or for such combination of school districts or counties as are recognized in a State as an administrative agency for its public elementary schools or secondary schools.
(B)Educational service agencies and other public institutions or agencies
The term includes—
(i)an educational service agency; and
(ii)any other public institution or agency having administrative control and direction of a public elementary school or secondary school.
(C)BIA funded schools
The term includes an elementary school or secondary school funded by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, but only to the extent that such inclusion makes the school eligible for programs for which specific eligibility is not provided to the school in another provision of law and the school does not have a student population that is smaller than the student population of the local educational agency receiving assistance under this chapter with the smallest student population, except that the school shall not be subject to the jurisdiction of any State educational agency other than the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
(20)Native language
The term “native language”, when used with respect to an individual who is limited English proficient, means the language normally used by the individual or, in the case of a child, the language normally used by the parents of the child.
(21)Nonprofit
The term “nonprofit”, as applied to a school, agency, organization, or institution, means a school, agency, organization, or institution owned and operated by 1 or more nonprofit corporations or associations no part of the net earnings of which inures, or may lawfully inure, to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.
(22)Outlying area
The term “outlying area” means the United States Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, and the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands.
(23)Parent
The term “parent” means—
(A)a natural, adoptive, or foster parent of a child (unless a foster parent is prohibited by State law from serving as a parent);
(B)a guardian (but not the State if the child is a ward of the State);
(C)an individual acting in the place of a natural or adoptive parent (including a grandparent, stepparent, or other relative) with whom the child lives, or an individual who is legally responsible for the child’s welfare; or
(D)except as used in section 1415(b)(2) and 1439(a)(5) of this title, an individual assigned under either of those sections to be a surrogate parent.
(24)Parent organization
The term “parent organization” has the meaning given the term in section 1471(g) of this title.
(25)Parent training and information center
The term “parent training and information center” means a center assisted under section 1471 or 1472 of this title.
(26)Related services
(A)In general
The term “related services” means transportation, and such developmental, corrective, and other supportive services (including speech-language pathology and audiology services, interpreting services, psychological services, physical and occupational therapy, recreation, including therapeutic recreation, social work services, school nurse services designed to enable a child with a disability to receive a free appropriate public education as described in the individualized education program of the child, counseling services, including rehabilitation counseling, orientation and mobility services, and medical services, except that such medical services shall be for diagnostic and evaluation purposes only) as may be required to assist a child with a disability to benefit from special education, and includes the early identification and assessment of disabling conditions in children.
(B)Exception
The term does not include a medical device that is surgically implanted, or the replacement of such device.
(27)Secondary school
The term “secondary school” means a nonprofit institutional day or residential school, including a public secondary charter school, that provides secondary education, as determined under State law, except that it does not include any education beyond grade 12.
(28)Secretary
The term “Secretary” means the Secretary of Education.
(29)Special education
The term “special education” means specially designed instruction, at no cost to parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability, including—
(A)instruction conducted in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings; and
(B)instruction in physical education.
(30)Specific learning disability
(A)In general
The term “specific learning disability” means a disorder in 1 or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or in using language, spoken or written, which disorder may manifest itself in the imperfect ability to listen, think, speak, read, write, spell, or do mathematical calculations.
(B)Disorders included
Such term includes such conditions as perceptual disabilities, brain injury, minimal brain dysfunction, dyslexia, and developmental aphasia.
(C)Disorders not included
Such term does not include a learning problem that is primarily the result of visual, hearing, or motor disabilities, of intellectual disabilities, of emotional disturbance, or of environmental, cultural, or economic disadvantage.
(31)State
The term “State” means each of the 50 States, the District of Columbia, the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico, and each of the outlying areas.
(32)State educational agency
The term “State educational agency” means the State board of education or other agency or officer primarily responsible for the State supervision of public elementary schools and secondary schools, or, if there is no such officer or agency, an officer or agency designated by the Governor or by State law.
(33)Supplementary aids and services
The term “supplementary aids and services” means aids, services, and other supports that are provided in regular education classes or other education-related settings to enable children with disabilities to be educated with nondisabled children to the maximum extent appropriate in accordance with section 1412(a)(5) of this title.
(34)Transition services
The term “transition services” means a coordinated set of activities for a child with a disability that—
(A)is designed to be within a results-oriented process, that is focused on improving the academic and functional achievement of the child with a disability to facilitate the child’s movement from school to post-school activities, including post-secondary education, vocational education, integrated employment (including supported employment), continuing and adult education, adult services, independent living, or community participation;
(B)is based on the individual child’s needs, taking into account the child’s strengths, preferences, and interests; and
(C)includes instruction, related services, community experiences, the development of employment and other post-school adult living objectives, and, when appropriate, acquisition of daily living skills and functional vocational evaluation.
(35)Universal design
The term “universal design” has the meaning given the term in section 3002 of title 29.
(36)Ward of the State
(A)In general
The term “ward of the State” means a child who, as determined by the State where the child resides, is a foster child, is a ward of the State, or is in the custody of a public child welfare agency.
(B)Exception
The term does not include a foster child who has a foster parent who meets the definition of a parent in paragraph (23).
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Editorial Notes
References in Text
The Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, referred to in par. (8)(A)(ii), (iii), is Pub. L. 89–10, Apr. 11, 1965, 79 Stat. 27. Part A of title I of the Act is classified generally to part A (§ 6311 et seq.) of subchapter I of chapter 70 of this title. Part A of title III of the Act is classified generally to part A (§ 6811 et seq.) of subchapter III of chapter 70 of this title. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 6301 of this title and Tables. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act, referred to in par. (13), is Pub. L. 92–203, Dec. 18, 1971, 85 Stat. 688, which is classified generally to chapter 33 (§ 1601 et seq.) of Title 43, Public Lands. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1601 of Title 43 and Tables. The Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978, referred to in par. (17)(B), is Pub. L. 95–471, Oct. 17, 1978, 92 Stat. 1325, which is classified principally to chapter 20 (§ 1801 et seq.) of Title 25, Indians. For complete classification of this Act to the Code, see
Short Title
note set out under section 1801 of Title 25 and Tables.
Prior Provisions
A prior section 1401, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 602, as added Pub. L. 105–17, title I, § 101,
June 4, 1997, 111 Stat. 42; amended Pub. L. 105–244, title IX, § 901(d), Oct. 7, 1998, 112 Stat. 1828, related to definitions of terms used in this chapter, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 108–446. Another prior section 1401, Pub. L. 91–230, title VI, § 602, Apr. 13, 1970, 84 Stat. 175; Pub. L. 94–142, § 4(a), Nov. 29, 1975, 89 Stat. 775; Pub. L. 98–199, §§ 2, 3(b), Dec. 2, 1983, 97 Stat. 1357, 1358; Pub. L. 99–457, title IV, § 402, Oct. 8, 1986, 100 Stat. 1172; Pub. L. 100–630, title I, § 101(a), Nov. 7, 1988, 102 Stat. 3289; Pub. L. 101–476, title I, § 101, title IX, § 901(b)(10)–(20), Oct. 30, 1990, 104 Stat. 1103, 1142, 1143; Pub. L. 102–73, title VIII, § 802(d)(1),
July 25, 1991, 105 Stat. 361; Pub. L. 102–119, §§ 3, 25(a)(1), (b), Oct. 7, 1991, 105 Stat. 587, 605, 607; Pub. L. 103–382, title III, § 391(f)(1), Oct. 20, 1994, 108 Stat. 4023, related to definitions of terms used in this chapter, prior to the general amendment of subchapters I to IV of this chapter by Pub. L. 105–17.
Amendments
2015—Par. (4). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(ss)(1)(A), struck out par. (4). Text read as follows: “The term ‘core academic subjects’ has the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.” Par. (8)(A)(iii). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(ss)(1)(B), which directed substitution of “under part A of title III of that Act” for “under parts A and B of title III of that Act” in “paragraph (8)(a)(3)”, was executed to par. (8)(A)(iii) to reflect the probable intent of Congress. Par. (10). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9214(d)(1), struck out par. (10) which related to definition of highly qualified. Par. (18). Pub. L. 114–95, § 9215(ss)(1)(C), added par. (18) and struck out former par. (18). Prior to amendment, text read as follows: “The term ‘limited English proficient’ has the meaning given the term in section 9101 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965.” 2010—Par. (3)(A)(i). Pub. L. 111–256, § 2(b)(2)(A), substituted “with intellectual disabilities” for “with mental retardation”. Par. (30)(C). Pub. L. 111–256, § 2(b)(2)(B), substituted “of intellectual disabilities” for “of mental retardation”. 2008—Par. (17)(B). Pub. L. 110–315 substituted “college or university” for “community college” and “the Tribally Controlled Colleges and Universities Assistance Act of 1978” for “the Tribally Controlled College or University Assistance Act of 1978”.
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
of 2015 AmendmentAmendment by Pub. L. 114–95 effective Dec. 10, 2015, except with respect to certain noncompetitive programs and competitive programs, see section 5 of Pub. L. 114–95, set out as a note under section 6301 of this title.
Effective Date
Section effective July 1, 2005, see section 302(a) of Pub. L. 108–446, set out as a note under section 1400 of this title. Definitions For meaning of references to an intellectual disability and to individuals with intellectual disabilities in provisions amended by section 2 of Pub. L. 111–256, see section 2(k) of Pub. L. 111–256, set out as a note under section 1400 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
20 U.S.C. § 1401
Title 20, Education
Last Updated
Sep 22, 2026
Release point: 119-110