Which landmark case addressed nondiscriminatory assessment influencing the drafting of IDEA?

The landmark case that addressed nondiscriminatory assessment and influenced the drafting of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is Diana v. State Board of Education. This case focused on the assessment practices used in schools, specifically highlighting the need for assessments to be free from bias and to accurately reflect the abilities of students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds.

Diana v. State Board of Education involved a young Spanish-speaking student who was misclassified as having an intellectual disability due to tests that were not appropriate for her cultural and linguistic background. The court ruled that tools and methods used in assessing students for special education services must be nondiscriminatory. This ruling prompted significant changes in assessment practices and contributed to the establishment of guidelines ensuring that students are assessed fairly, leading to more equitable educational opportunities.

This case's emphasis on appropriate, unbiased assessment practices is a foundational aspect of IDEA, which mandates that assessments used to determine eligibility for special education services must be valid and reliable, taking into account the individual needs and backgrounds of students.