Legal Definitions - stay-put rule

The stay-put rule is a principle in school law that requires a child to remain in their current educational placement while an administrative claim under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is being processed. This means that the child cannot be moved to a different school or program until the claim is resolved.

For example, if a child with a disability is currently attending a special education program and their parents file a claim to have them moved to a mainstream classroom, the stay-put rule would require the child to remain in the special education program until the claim is resolved.

Another example would be if a child is being disciplined for behavior issues and their parents file a claim to have them placed in a different program. The stay-put rule would require the child to remain in their current program until the claim is resolved.

The stay-put rule is important because it helps to ensure that children with disabilities receive the education and services they need while any disputes or claims are being resolved.