Definition
FAPE is a right guaranteed under IDEA to all students with disabilities in the US. Schools must provide an education that is free, designed to meet the student's unique needs, and reasonably calculated to enable progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances.
Why It Matters
FAPE is the legal foundation of special education. When schools fail to provide it, parents have legal recourse including due process. Understanding FAPE gives families the language to advocate effectively.
Common Misconception
FAPE does not mean the best possible education. In its 2017 Endrew F. decision, the US Supreme Court held that a school must offer an IEP reasonably calculated to enable a child to make progress appropriate in light of the child's circumstances, a standard it called more demanding than the 'merely more than de minimis' test some courts had used. It also does not mean educating a student in a certain setting, placement is a separate question (LRE).