Skip to content
PoliticalRepoPoliticalRepo

United States · Law · HR

H.R. 5 (105th)

Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997

enactedUnited States· United States Congress· EN

Introduced

7 January 1997

Last action

4 June 1997 · Became law

Status

Became Public Law No: 105-17.

Sponsors

Rep. Goodling, William F. [R-PA-19], Rep. Riggs, Frank [R-CA-1], Rep. Castle, Michael N. [R-DE-At Large], Rep. Petri, Thomas E. [R-WI-6], Rep. Ballenger, Cass [R-NC-10], Rep. Barrett, Bill [R-NE-3], Rep. McKeon, Howard P. "Buck" [R-CA-25], Sen. Talent, Jim [R-MO], Rep. Greenwood, James C. [R-PA-8], Rep. Knollenberg, Joe [R-MI-9], Sen. Graham, Lindsey [R-SC], Rep. Souder, Mark E. [R-IN-3], Rep. McIntosh, David M. [R-IN-2], Rep. Norwood, Charles W. [R-GA-9], Rep. Cunningham, Randy (Duke) [R-CA-50], Rep. Johnson, Sam [R-TX-3], Rep. Bono, Sonny [R-CA-44], Rep. Latham, Tom [R-IA-3], Rep. McGovern, James P. [D-MA-2]

Subjects

Environment, Education

Source updated

21 July 2025

Environment · Education

Official sourceDownload fileView documentsShare

Summary

TABLE OF CONTENTS: Title I: Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions IDEA Improvement Act of 1997 - Title I: Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act - Revises the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to allow States to extend use of the developmental delay category of eligibility for children up to age nine. (Sec. 101) Eliminates certain provisions for: (1) acquisition of equipment and construction; and (2) removal of architectural barriers. Revises the program of assistance for education of all children with disabilities. Revises the funding formula for allotments to States. Provides for increases in allotments over a transition period of FY 1998 through 2006. Bases the new formula on a State's: (1) child population; and (2) child poverty. Authorizes appropriations. Sets forth requirements for least restrictive environment in placement of students. Requires States to use methods of distributing IDEA funds that ensure compliance with such requirements. Allows a public agency to reduce or deny reimbursement to parents of a child placed in a private school without the public agency's consent or referral if: (1) the parents (with specified exceptions) did not notify the agency of the intended placement, with a written statement of their concerns, at least ten days before the child's removal from public school; (2) the parents did not make the child available for a local educational agency (LEA) initial assessment and evaluation before the child's removal from public school and enrollment in private school; or (3) it is so ruled at the judge's discretion. Allows an LEA to reduce its level of special education expenditures under specified limited circumstances. Allows commingling of Federal and State special education funds under certain circumstances. Authorizes the Secretary to modify certain LEA requirements for ten designated LEAs or groups of LEAs which endeavor to achieve innovative delivery of services. Revises provisions for evaluations, reevaluations, individualized education programs (IEPs), and educational placements. Grants parents a right to refuse an initial evaluation of a referred child's need for special education services. Authorizes the LEA, in such a circumstance, to utilize certain mediation and due process procedures to resolve the dispute. Prohibits construing the parents' consent for a child's evaluation as consent for placement for receipt of special education and related services. Requires, in the cases of children whose behavior impedes their own or others' learning, the IEP Team to consider strategies, including behavioral management plans, to address that behavior. Includes the following categories of behavior, at school or a school function, among those for which school personnel may order removal of a child with a disability from the classroom, and placement in an alternative educational setting, for an additional 45 days over the regular ten-day limit for such a removal: (1) carrying any weapons (current law only covers firearms); (2) having, using, soliciting sale of, or selling medications or illegal drugs; and (3) causing serious physical or emotional injury as a result of physical or verbal assault. Authorizes a hearing officer to order such a change of placement for up to 45 days if there is substantial evidence that maintenance of the current placement is substantially likely to result in injury to the child or to others. Requires an IEP Team to review whether the child's inappropriate action was a manifestation of the disability, including review of the technical soundness of the behavior management plan. Allows change of placement, with the parents' agreement, if the behavior is a result of the disability. Provides for an immediate appeal to the hearing officer if the parents disagree with the determination or the changed educational placement. Allows application to children with disabilities of the same relevant disciplinary procedures applicable to children without disabilities, if the behavior is determined to be not a manifestation of the disability. Allows a due process hearing if the parents disagree with such application of discipline. Requires States and LEAs receiving IDEA assistance to offer parents voluntary mediation procedures for disputes over provision of free appropriate public education to children with disabilities. Requires all parties in a dispute to disclose, for review, to all other parties evaluations and recommendations intended for use at the hearing. Revises the program for infants and toddlers with disabilities, repealing a requirement that all State policies and assurances pertaining to programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities be filed with every application to the Department of Education. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 through 2002. Provides for national activities to improve education of children with disabilities, replacing current provisions for training personnel for the education of individuals with disabilities, and consolidating as discretionary programs certain current programs. Authorizes: (1) the Secretary to carry out various national research and improvement activities; (2) States to apply for improvement grants upon certification that a collaborative process with specified types of participants has been used in developing the State improvement plan for special education and early intervention systems; and (3) the Secretary to make grants to and contracts with parent organizations to support parent training and information centers, as well as provide technical assistance for such centers' programs. Authorizes appropriations for FY 1998 through 2002. Authorizes the Secretary to make personnel development grants and contracts for: (1) various activities of national significance relating to development of personnel to work with children with disabilities; (2) professional development for personnel who will provide educational and related services to children with low-incidence disabilities, and personnel who will provide early intervention services to infants and toddlers with disabilities; and (3) preparation of leadership personnel. Directs the Secretary to develop a plan for providing outreach services to increase the participation in competitions for such personnel development grants and contracts by: (1) Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other higher education institutions with at least 25 percent minority enrollment; (2) specified eligible institutions under provisions of the Higher Education Act of 1965 for strengthening institutions with high enrollments of needy students; (3) nonprofit and for-profit agencies at least 51 percent owned or controlled by one or more minority individuals; and (4) underrepresented populations. Title II: Miscellaneous Provisions - Amends the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 to provide for coordination of schoolwide programs with those under IDEA. (Sec. 203) Repeals specified parts of IDEA superseded by this Act.

This text is taken from the official record. PoliticalRepo does not editorialize.

Timeline

  1. 7 January 1997

    Introduced

    Referred to the House Committee on Education and the Workforce.

    Source: IntroReferral

  2. 7 January 1997

    Introduced

    Sponsor introductory remarks on measure. (CR E54, E61-62)

    Source: IntroReferral

  3. 7 January 1997

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  4. 7 January 1997

    Introduced

    Introduced in House

    Source: IntroReferral

  5. 31 January 1997

    Referred

    Referred to the Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families.

    Source: Committee

  6. 4 February 1997

    Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Source: Committee

  7. 6 February 1997

    Committee

    Subcommittee Hearings Held.

    Source: Committee

  8. 7 May 1997

    Committee

    Subcommittee on Early Childhood, Youth and Families Discharged.

    Source: Committee

  9. 7 May 1997

    Reported

    Ordered to be Reported (Amended) by Voice Vote.

    Source: Committee

  10. 7 May 1997

    Committee

    Committee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held.

    Source: Committee

  11. 13 May 1997

    Floor

    Considered under suspension of the rules. (consideration: CR H2498-2541)

    Source: Floor

  12. 13 May 1997

    Vote

    At the conclusion of debate, the Yeas and Nays were demanded and ordered. Pursuant to the provisions of clause 5, rule I, the Chair announced that further proceedings on the motion would be postponed.

    Source: Floor

  13. 13 May 1997

    Floor

    DEBATE - The House proceeded with forty minutes of debate.

    Source: Floor

  14. 13 May 1997

    Passed

    Motion to reconsider laid on the table Agreed to without objection.

    Source: Floor

  15. 13 May 1997

    Vote

    On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 3 (Roll no. 124).

    Source: Floor

  16. 13 May 1997

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in House: On motion to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended Agreed to by the Yeas and Nays: (2/3 required): 420 - 3 (Roll no. 124).

    Source: Floor

  17. 13 May 1997

    Floor

    Mr. Goodling moved to suspend the rules and pass the bill, as amended.

    Source: Floor

  18. 13 May 1997

    Calendars

    Placed on the Union Calendar, Calendar No. 60.

    Source: Calendars

  19. 13 May 1997

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 105-95.

    Source: Committee

  20. 13 May 1997

    Reported

    Reported (Amended) by the Committee on Education and the Workforce. H. Rept. 105-95.

    Source: Committee

  21. 13 May 1997

    Introduced

    Received in the Senate, read twice.

    Source: IntroReferral

  22. 14 May 1997

    Floor

    Measure laid before Senate. (consideration: CR S4409-4411)

    Source: Floor

  23. 14 May 1997

    Vote

    Passed/agreed to in Senate: Passed Senate in lieu of S. 717 without amendment by Yea-Nay Vote. 98-1. Record Vote No: 66.(consideration: CR S4411)

    Source: Floor

  24. 3 June 1997

    Floor

    Presented to President.

    Source: Floor

  25. 3 June 1997

    President

    Presented to President.

    Source: President

  26. 4 June 1997

    President

    Signed by President.

    Source: President

  27. 4 June 1997

    Became law

    Signed by President.

    Source: BecameLaw

  28. 4 June 1997

    Became law

    Became Public Law No: 105-17.

    Source: President

Votes

14 May 1997 · Bill Passed · On Passage of the Bill H.R. 5 · Bill Passed · Official source

Yes 98 · No 1 · Abstain — · Absent/not voting 1

Showing the first 4 recorded positions. Vote totals above are complete.

Versions

Documents

14 official files

Public Law (text)

View fileDownload file

This file cannot be previewed here. Use View or Download.

Leesvertaling

Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Public Law (text)

    Public Law · EN · 4 June 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

  • Public Law (PDF)

    Public Law · EN · 4 June 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Enrolled Bill (text)

    Enrolled Bill · EN · 14 May 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Enrolled Bill (PDF)

    Enrolled Bill · EN · 14 May 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Received in Senate (text)

    Received in Senate · EN · 13 May 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Received in Senate (PDF)

    Received in Senate · EN · 13 May 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Engrossed in House (text)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 13 May 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Engrossed in House (PDF)

    Engrossed in House · EN · 13 May 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Reported in House (text)

    Reported in House · EN · 13 May 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Reported in House (PDF)

    Reported in House · EN · 13 May 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Passed House amended

    summary · EN · 13 May 1997

    Open at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in House (text)

    Introduced in House · EN · 7 January 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in House (PDF)

    Introduced in House · EN · 7 January 1997

    ViewDownloadOpen at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

  • Introduced in House

    summary · EN · 7 January 1997

    Open at official source

    Leesvertaling

    Vertaal dit document naar jouw taal. PoliticalRepo bewaart geen aparte kopie per EU-taal.

    Documentvertaling op verzoek met downloadbare PDF (logo + link naar de officiële bron). Het bronbestand blijft leidend.

Sponsors

Related records

Related across the Repo ecosystem

Direct relationships are identifier-backed. Topic context means shared TopicMembership — not a citation and not causation.

Direct relationships

Sources

PoliticalRepo is an index and interpretation layer, not the authoritative legal source.