What does the Stay-Put rule protect during the due process procedure?

The Stay-Put rule is a provision under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that ensures a student’s current educational placement is maintained during the due process procedures. This means that if a parent disputes changes to their child's educational placement, the student must remain in their existing placement until the issue is resolved. The rule serves to protect the student from being moved or removed from a program or school environment that is currently deemed appropriate for their needs while disputes about their education are being addressed.

Maintaining the current educational placement helps prevent disruption in the student's learning environment and ensures that they continue to receive the support they have been found to need. This provision is critical in safeguarding a student's right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) while due process proceedings are ongoing.