A Comparative Analysis of Special Education Laws in Saudi Arabia and the United States
- Maram Mohammed Alnahari
Abstract
Objective: This paper presents a comprehensive comparative legal analysis of special education laws and policies in Saudi Arabia and the United States, examining their alignment with international human rights principles, inclusive educational practices, and contemporary frameworks for supporting students with disabilities. Methodology: The research employs a comparative legal analysis approach, utilizing documentary analysis of legislative texts, policy documents, and regulatory frameworks from both countries. The analysis incorporates systematic examination of statutory provisions, ministerial resolutions, policy guidelines, and scholarly sources to construct a detailed comparative framework across eight key dimensions: historical development, legal structures, definitional clarity, implementation mechanisms, disability identification and assessment procedures, educational placement philosophy, procedural safeguards, and resource allocation. Key Findings: While both nations share a foundational commitment to providing free, appropriate, and equitable education for students with disabilities, significant structural, procedural, and philosophical differences characterize their respective systems. The United States emphasizes standardized assessment protocols, the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) principle, mandatory Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and robust procedural safeguards grounded in civil rights legislation. Saudi Arabia, by contrast, provides greater administrative and pedagogical flexibility, employs observational identification methods, supports integration into mainstream schools while permitting specialized settings, and emphasizes collaborative governance structures involving educational institutions, families, and government authorities.
Keywords
special education law, comparative analysis, disability rights, inclusive education, Saudi Arabia, United States, IDEA, educational equity, legal frameworksCitation
Alnahari, M.M. (). A Comparative Analysis of Special Education Laws in Saudi Arabia and the United States. JSHM, 8(16), doi: 10.21608/jshm.2026.463131.1546