Nevada’s policies and procedures are principally established through the Nevada Administrative Code (NAC), and effective implementation of the requirements of the NAC support implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).

Chapter 388 - System of Public Instruction, Pupils with Disabilities

• General Provisions: NRS 388.417 - 422
• Educational Services: NRS 388.429 - 453
• Rights of Pupils with Disabilities: NRS 388.457 - 459
• Hearings Conducted Pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: NRS 388.463 - 469
• Use of Aversive Intervention, Physical Restraint and Mechanical Restraint on Pupils with Disabilities: NRS 388.471 - 515
• Development of Language and Literacy Skills by Pupils with Hearing or Visual Impairment: NRS 388.5155 - 5195
• Program for Persons with Disabilities with Unique Needs: NRS 388.5223 - 5243

Chapter 388- System of Public Instruction, Special Instructional Services and Programs

• General Provisions: NAC 388.001 - 145
• Administration of Programs for Pupils with Disabilities and Gifted and Talented Pupils: NAC 388.150 - 323
• Determination of Eligibility for Placement of Pupils with Disabilities and Gifted and Talented Pupils: NAC 388.325 - 450
• Program for Persons with Disabilities with Unique Needs: NAC 388.460 - 488

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a law that makes available a free appropriate public education to eligible children with disabilities throughout the nation and ensures special education and related services to those children.

The IDEA governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to more than 7.5 million (as of school year 2020-21) eligible infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities.

Infants and toddlers, birth through age 2, with disabilities and their families receive early intervention services under IDEA Part C. Children and youth ages 3 through 21 receive special education and related services under IDEA Part B.

Additionally, the IDEA authorizes:

• Formula grants to states to support special education and related services and early intervention services.
• Discretionary grants to state educational agencies, institutions of higher education, and other nonprofit organizations to support research, demonstrations, technical assistance and dissemination, technology development, personnel preparation and development, and parent-training and -information centers. Congress reauthorized the IDEA in 2004 and most recently amended the IDEA through Public Law 114-95, the Every Student Succeeds Act, in December 2015.

In the law, Congress states:

Disability is a natural part of the human experience and in no way diminishes the right of individuals to participate in or contribute to society. Improving educational results for children with disabilities is an essential element of our national policy of ensuring equality of opportunity, full participation, independent living, and economic self-sufficiency for individuals with disabilities.

• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

The federal regulations for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 2004 include a section (Subpart E) called Procedural Safeguards. These safeguards are designed to protect the rights of parents and their child with a disability and, at the same time, give families and school systems several mechanisms by which to resolve their disputes.

• Special Education Rights of Parents & Students (English)
• Special Education Rights of Parents & Students (Spanish)
• Special Education Rights of Parents & Students (Tagalog)
• Special Education Rights of Parents & Students (Chinese)
• Special Education Rights of Parents & Students (Vietnamese)
• Special Education Rights of Parents & Students (Amharic)
• Notice of Application to Represent the Educational Interests of a Special Education Student at the Age of Majority

Upon completion of the administration of assessments and other evaluation measures a group of qualified professionals and the parent of the child determines whether the child is a child with a disability. Determination of eligibility can be made in the following categories:

• Statement of Eligibility-Autism Spectrum Disorder
• Statement of Eligibility-Developmentally Delayed
• Statement of Eligibility - Deaf-Blindness
• Statement of Eligibility-Emotional Disturbance
• Statement of Eligibility-Health Impairment
• Statement of Eligibility-Hearing Impairment
• Statement of Eligibility-Intellectual Disabilities/Multiple Impairment
• Statement of Eligibility-Specific Learning Disabilities
• Statement of Eligibility-Orthopedic Impairment
• Statement of Eligibility-Speech and Language Impairment
• Statement of Eligibility-Traumatic Brain Injury
• Statement of Eligibility-Visual Impairment

If a determination is made that a child has a disability and needs special education and related services, an "individualized educational program" or "IEP" must be developed for the child in accordance with IDEA, NRS and NAC.

• State of Nevada Individualized Educational Program (IEP)