What must be true for a student to qualify under IDEA for emotional disturbance?

To qualify under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for emotional disturbance, it is essential that the disturbance negatively impacts educational performance. This criterion is foundational because the law is designed to ensure that students who have difficulty in their education due to emotional challenges receive appropriate support.

For a student to receive special education services, it is not enough to simply have an emotional disturbance; there must be clear evidence of how this condition affects their ability to learn, participate, and succeed in an educational setting. If the emotional disturbance does not interfere with educational performance, the student may not meet the qualifications for additional support under IDEA.

The other options, while they may relate to a student's experience or circumstances, do not directly address the required aspect of educational performance. Identifying a mental health disorder, showing behavioral problems at home, or having all emotional issues documented by a psychologist may be relevant in some contexts but are not mandatory requirements for determining eligibility under IDEA.