What educational principle ensures that all students, regardless of their abilities, have access to quality education?

The concept ensuring that all students have access to quality education, regardless of their abilities, is rooted in the principle of Free and Appropriate Education. This is a fundamental right established in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), which mandates that public schools provide specialized educational services tailored to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities. This principle guarantees that these students receive meaningful educational opportunities in the least restrictive environment, aiming to prepare them for further education, employment, and independent living.

On the other hand, Universal Design for Learning focuses on creating an inclusive curriculum that accommodates diverse learning styles and needs from the outset, but it does not explicitly guarantee access to education based on legal rights. Standardization refers to a uniform approach to educational assessments and curricula, which doesn’t inherently address the individual needs of all students. Curriculum Compacting is a strategy used to adjust curricula for advanced learners, allowing them to move through the material more quickly, rather than ensuring equal access for all students.