The act is passed to guarantee: "a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment" (Ferri & Connor, 2005).

Prior to its passage, many children with disabilities were completely denied access to local schools. This largely meant a segregated education system, in which Black students were overrepresented in the majority of "special education" programs–many of which were held in highly-restrictive environments. The result was a "separate but (un)equal" educational system, with general education on one side and special education on the other.