Chapter 1
LegislationKey Ideas
Legislation In Special Ed. IDEA/ P.L. 94-142
Has evolved into IDEA over the course of 30 years
This law protects people with disabilities from being discriminated in education
Shows much progress in special education advocacy
FAPE- Free, Appropriate Public Education
Gives students the opportunity to learn in public schools
Schools must provide what the student needs for education, either by the district or the district will provide and pay for an outside agency
Transportation and other services must be supplied
This is the core of IDEA
IDEA Cont. Appropriate Evaluation/ IEP
Appropriate Evaluation says that the student must be recommended by a team of
professionals, and the parents MUST approve/ give consent
IEP
Each special ed. student will have a documented IEP
These are to establish learning goals for the student
Goals are based on student's present level of performance
IEP may contain anything that the team feels the student needs
IEP must be agreed upon by a team, including the student and parents
IEP will address the general education setting as well as special education services
IDEA Cont. LRE (least restrictive environment) says that the
student shall spend as much time as possible in the
general education setting
Procedural Safeguards
Parents have the right to any educational
information on their child
Due process hearings and appeals can be
summoned by parents
FBA is available
Section 504 Says that any student with physical or mental impairment which substantially limits major life
activities qualify automatically for special education service
Protects students whom may not have received services under IDEA law
ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) 1990
This law pertains more to civil rights of disabled people
Grants protection from discrimination in the workforce, transportation, housing, government operations, and communications
This law has a different definition of disability than IDEA
NCLB (No Child Left Behind)
Passed in 2001
Considered the legal mandate of standard-based education
Intention is to “equalize” national education
High-Stakes testing
Great emphasis on reading
Stresses “Highly Qualified Teachers”
There is some great things about this law within all of the controversy
Students with disabilities are now required to meet “standards”
Schools put emphasis on SPED because of funding
SPED students are given very high expectations
What's in the schools
today? Standard based education- this is the precursor of NCLB, to have a nation of
well-educated people
Students and teachers are held accountable for education- Assessment,
Assessment, Assessment
Inclusion is considered a “hot button” right now
Inclusion is the placement of SPED students in the general
education classroom as much as possible
Inclusion is mandated by IDEA
What's in Schools today? RTI is a revolutionary intervention which uses “tiers” to
help get students the instruction they need
Tier 1 is the core curriculum, with basic
assessment to tell what students move onto
tier 2
Tier 2 is intensive targeted instruction for the
students whom do not “pass” tier 1
Tier 3 is a more intensive and individualized
form of tier 2, which may lead to LD diagnosis
What's in Schools today? UDL (Universal Design for Learning) is a concept which
attempt to educate as many students, including SPED,
as possible with a good lesson plan and attainable goals
Differentiated Instruction is the modification of the
curriculum to accommodate students having problems
with it. It is based on the gifted education models.
Evidence-based practices are a cornerstone in SPED
and RTI, as the educators must use methods that have
been tested and researched in a scientific setting.
This is why things like “hooked on phonics” are not in
the classroom :)
What's in Schools today? Diversity in our schools is a never-ending issue
Diversity can refer to social, “racial”, linguistic,
disability, and ability levels
Diversity can be a dividing issue in public
schools
Teachers “need” to show a “sensitivity” to
diversity and show knowledge of groups of
students
This knowledge can help the students develop
in the classroom as well as in life
So where are we headed?As in life, the future is unknown, and with politics
playing the major role in education, the economic issues, and globalization, education could be headed either to new frontiers in excellence or else reverting to old standards, depending on the political climate. The education of our children is largely dictated by politics, some good, some bad. Also, educators and parents need to be advocates for schools, and tell the government when they just aren't right. Where we go is completely up to us, and how much control we want as educators
Works Cited
Polloway, Edward A., Patton, James R., and Serna, Loretta. (2008). Strategies for Teachings Learners with Special Needs.
(Ninth Ed.) Columbus, OH. Pearson Merrill Prentice Hall Publishing.