Which statement best describes the Handicapped Children's Protection Act of 1986?

• A. The development of their child's IEP
• B. The hiring of school administrators
• C. Gave parents of children with disabilities more say in the development of their child's IEP
• D. The placement in private schools

Answer: (C)

At its core, this act protects families by ensuring that if a public school fails to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) and a parent unilaterally places a child in a private school, the school district can be required to reimburse the private school costs and related expenses, including attorney fees when the parent prevails in due process. This creates a remedy for situations where the public system doesn’t meet FAPE, so parents aren’t stuck paying out of pocket for appropriate services. While parental involvement in IEP development is important in special education, this act’s primary impact is the financial remedy for private placement after a FAPE deficiency, rather than expanding ongoing control over the IEP process. The idea of private placement is tied to the act in its reimbursement provision, not to broader decisions about who writes the IEP.