Which law requires public schools to provide free and appropriate education to all students?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is the law that mandates public schools to provide free and appropriate education (FAPE) specifically tailored to meet the individual needs of students with disabilities. This includes ensuring that educational services are accessible and designed to help students with disabilities achieve their educational goals. IDEA emphasizes the importance of individualized education plans (IEPs) to facilitate this process, ensuring that students receive the necessary resources, support, and accommodations to thrive in an educational environment.

In contrast, the other options serve different purposes. The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) focused on accountability in education and improving academic achievement for all students. The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), which replaced NCLB, continues to promote student achievement but also maintains the standards without the same level of federal oversight. The Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA) deals with the privacy of student education records rather than directly addressing educational provision. Therefore, IDEA is specifically designed to address the educational rights of students with disabilities, making it the correct answer in this context.