Which federal key piece of legislation catapulted Adapted Physical Education into a new era?

The key piece of federal legislation that catapulted Adapted Physical Education (APE) into a new era is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Specifically, the reauthorizations of IDEA, particularly the 1990 and subsequent amendments, significantly impacted APE by mandating that students with disabilities have access to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE), including specially designed instruction in physical education. This shifted APE from a primarily remedial approach to one focused on inclusion and providing opportunities for students to participate in general physical education alongside their peers whenever possible.