What did the 1986 Education of the Handicapped Amendment (Public Law 99-457) extend?

The correct answer centers on the significant expansion of educational services that the 1986 Education of the Handicapped Amendment (Public Law 99-457) introduced. This amendment specifically aimed to enhance opportunities for early intervention and specialized education for children with disabilities.

One key provision of this law was the extension of services to children ages 3 to 5, making it a requirement that these children receive a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). This marked an important shift in acknowledging the educational rights of younger children with disabilities, thereby ensuring they had access to the necessary resources for their development and learning in a structured environment.

The other options discuss relevant topics but do not capture the primary focus of the 1986 amendment. While the provision of educational services to children as young as 1-3 was addressed in a broader context, the explicit requirement for FAPE specifically targeted children from 3 to 5 years old, aligning closely with early childhood education. Vocational training for teenagers and accessibility standards for public places, while important issues, were not the central focus of this particular legislation. The emphasis on early education for preschoolers with disabilities highlighted a commitment to addressing educational needs from a younger age, which was a transformative development in special education policy.