President Gerald Ford signs into law the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (renamed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, or IDEA, in 1990) to provide financial assistance to states and school districts to subsidize the extra costs of educating children with disabilities. In order to receive federal funds, states must develop and implement policies that ensure a free appropriate public education to all children with disabilities. Among other things, the law requires that an individualized assessment and plan be developed for each disabled child.