As of 2018, approximately seven million students enrolled in U.S. schools receive special education services due to a disability.

Since being signed into law, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) of 1975 has undergone several revisions.

It was initially created to assure all children were receiving a free and appropriate public education (FAPE).

They required schools to use research based interventions in the process of assisting students with learning difficulties, or determining eligibility for special education.

Many schools have implemented Response to Intervention (RTI) as a method of meeting the new requirements set by IDEA 2004.