LINDA McMAHON: Parents told me special education needs less red tape, stronger results

Last year marked 50 years of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), the momentous law that secured federal protections for infants, toddlers, and students with disabilities and their families. Today, more than 8 million individuals with disabilities are served under IDEA and guaranteed early intervention and a free appropriate education — more than double the number since the law passed in 1975. I had the privilege of celebrating this milestone at an elementary school. I imagine