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.