Legal Guidelines for the Delivery of Special Health Care Services in Schools

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act includes school health services in a list of possible related services. The rising costs associated with education and the request for more extensive and costly services by children who have special health care needs have made the delivery of these services in schools as part of free, appropriate public education increasingly controversial. An examination of relevant documents and court decisions from the past 10 years provides insight into congressional intent, federal regulations, and local implementation of service delivery related to children with extensive health care needs.