Intended for child advocates, this book analyzes children's educational rights under two federal statutes, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. The nine chapters address the following topics: (1) the statutory framework of the two laws (including eligibility, age ranges, operation, and reach); (2) content, quality, and the meaning of "free appropriate public education" (e.g., meanings of "special education,""related services," and "least restrictive environment"); (3) special issues regarding related services (e.g., the "medical exclusion," in-school assistance with health-related needs, and children with substance abuse problems or psychiatric disorders); (4) educational evaluations (rights, procedures, and safeguards); (5) individualized education programs, placement decisions, and parent participation; (6) procedural safeguards and dispute resolution (e.g., surrogate parents, administrative complaints, due process, civil action); (7) discrimination against children who have AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome), are positive for HIV (human immunodeficiency virus), or are carriers of hepatitis B; (8) discipline of students with disabilities (statutory entitlements and unresolved issues); and (9) early intervention services for infants and toddlers. Appended are a guide to legal notations and references, and a listing of regional offices of the U.S. Department of Education, Office for Civil Rights. (DB)