What are key laws that guide school counseling practices related to educational equity?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) are critical laws that significantly influence school counseling practices related to educational equity.

IDEA ensures that students with disabilities have access to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) tailored to their individual needs. It mandates that schools develop an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for each student with a qualifying disability, which outlines specific educational goals and the services necessary to achieve them. This helps create an equitable educational environment where students with disabilities receive the support they need to succeed academically.

The ADA further extends the rights of individuals with disabilities by prohibiting discrimination based on disability in all areas of public life, including schools. This law requires educational institutions to make reasonable accommodations to ensure that students with disabilities can participate fully in all school activities and programs.

Collectively, IDEA and ADA promote educational equity by affirmatively ensuring that students with disabilities receive the same opportunities for success as their peers. They serve as foundational frameworks that guide school counselors in advocating for and supporting these students within the educational setting.

In contrast, the other laws listed serve different purposes, such as privacy rights in education or children's online safety, which, while important, do not directly address educational equity for