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The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) — the largest international professional organisation dedicated to improving outcomes for children and youth with disabilities and/or gifts and talents — provides this resource reflecting on 50 years of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in partnership with Goalbook. Originally passed as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act in 1975, IDEA is the landmark legislation that guarantees a free appropriate public education for students with disabilities. CEC played a pivotal role in developing the predecessor of today's IDEA, and for five decades has been at the forefront of advocating for appropriate governmental policies, setting professional standards, and providing professional development for special educators. This resource examines how IDEA has evolved over half a century and the continuing impact of this landmark legislation on special education practice. CEC's professional development offerings extend well beyond this resource — the organisation provides free webinars on a wide range of special education topics, hosts an annual convention featuring over 300 sessions with actionable strategies and research insights, publishes two leading journals (Teaching Exceptional Children and Exceptional Children), and maintains local units in all 50 states and Canada along with 18 Special Interest Divisions. For special education teachers, administrators, related service providers, and advocates, CEC represents the premier professional home for advancing practice and policy in exceptional children's education.