This course introduces special education law and the two principal statutes: the Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA) and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act. The statutes are challenging procedurally as well as substantively, and both will be examined. Understanding special education also demands consideration of what is disability, whether special education is the most just and effective response to students who experience issues with learning, access, and behavior, and how education is affected by the differences among students and families in terms of race, social capital and school resources.