The Importance Of Special Education

The amount of people who live with disabilities is a controversial number. Depending on what law and diagnostic tools used, a person may have a visible disability, or one that may lie beneath the surface of his or her appearance. Some people believe that the term “disability” is merely a label use to hold back, or prescribe helplessness. Meanwhile, individuals who have been properly diagnosed with disabilities struggle to maintain respect and acceptance every day. In plain language, there is a lot of misunderstanding between people with disabilities and those without. It is firstly important to get everyone on the same page regarding the definition of disability.

The pros and cons of the inclusion of special education students in the public school system.

When Public Law 94-142 was passed in 1975 it had a positive impact on the education for children with disabilities. Millions of children in the United States were supported by the law. These children had previously been excluded entirely from the education system.

Prior to 1975, students with disabilities had limited educational options, as most children either attended a private school at the expense of their parents or did not attend a school at all, resulting in the child remaining in the home setting (Lloyd & Llody, 2015). The desire for equal treatment and acceptance are components sought by students with MSD, their families, and advocates within the field of special education. Although severe cognitive deficits can impact typical awareness, some individuals with a severe disability recognize the notion they may be viewed differently from the general public. FAPE ensures access to learning spaces for children with MSD, thus a free public education is provided at no cost to the family. In addition, a continuum of service options is considered by an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) team when determining a public school districts offer of FAPE, which is to be provided in the least restrictive environment (Yell, Katsiyannis, Ryan, McDuffe & Mattocks, 2008).

In what type of school do you teach? (Type an “X” next to the appropriate description; if “other” applies, provide a brief description.)

Prior to 1975, no federal requirements existed for students with disabilities to attend school, or requirements for schools to attempt to teach students with disabilities (Salvia, Yesseldyke, & Bolt, 2013, p. 25). However, upon the enactment of several federal laws, such as Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and No Child Left Behind (NCLB), student with disabilities received access to free, appropriate public education which in turned required students with disabilities to participate in statewide assessments. According to Public Law 94-142 (now included in IDEA), it requires an individual education program (IEP) for students with disabilities. As part of the IEP, it contains items such as present levels of academic achievement and functional performance, measurable annual goals, criteria of progress, special education and related services as well as documenting any necessary accommodations needed for statewide assessments. The author provides a comparison of statewide assessments including items such as participation, accommodations and types of assessments between the states of Texas and Massachusetts.

In order to meet the equal-opportunity challenge in education this mandate requires funding for all public schools at levels. This is sufficient to provide a rigorous curriculum in a wide range of subject areas, delivered by Highly–Qualified Teachers, with support by excellent school district leaders. This also, requires adequate funding for school districts that provide education for high numbers of students from low-income families, ESL students, including students with special needs (Baker, B. D., Sciarra, D. G., Farrie, D. (2010, p. 1).

Among the most longstanding and intransigent issues in the field, the disproportionate representation of minority students in special education programs has its roots in a long history of educational segregation and discrimination. Although national estimates of disproportionality have been consistent over time, state and local estimates may show varying patterns of disproportionality. A number of factors may contribute to disproportionality, including test bias, poverty, special education processes, inequity in general education, issues of behavior management, and cultural mismatch/cultural reproduction (Skiba, et al., 2008).

There are three main stakeholders for special education students being; parents, educators, and school district officials. Communication between these three groups of people will allow for better understanding in regards to plans and programs for students (Hughes, 2015). It also allows for everyone to learning new things as a group and ensure that all students are going to receive the best education throughout their years in a public school. Not only will current students benefit from the gathering and consulting of parents, teachers, administration, and others district school officials but all future students with exceptionalities as well. Every student is different and every school year there is a different issue that can be faced, however with proper consulting there is a higher chance of these students leaving at the age of twenty-one with skills and knowledge to become a member of

“It’s a sad reflection on society of how little we care for those with other needs. It’s especially visible within our school students. If around $12,000 dollars is spent on the average student at the school, only around $8,000 is spent on a student in an autism or special needs program.”

There are numerous concerns of those who are currently debating the issue of free appropriate public education. One central concern is the cost of funding for educating a child with disabilities. It is known by all sides of the disagreement that it costs more to educate a student with a disability rather than a general education student. To be exact, “[the] average per student cost is $7,552 and the average cost per special education student is an additional $9,369 per student, or $16,921” (Background). The main concern is where to find the funding for this education. All the sides are focusing on trying to find a balance between what to provide as an appropriate education and what not to provide because it is extra and not fair to the general

Along with challenges and battles, Michigan has made it a long ways in a very diverse range of areas. History is what brings us to where we are today. Throughout time, I believe that every leader, politician, and good citizen strived to crate a better place to live. If this is true than the strides that Michigan has made to become the best it can be are due to the love and devotion that michiganders have to their sate and their country. Just because people try to do good and do their best to promote a safe, equal, and problem-free society, does not mean that it is possible. In this essay I plan to explore the social and economic problems faced my Michigan as they entered the new millennium and the history of special education in

For most of our nation's history, children with special needs or disabilities were shunted aside. In spite of mandated education laws that had been in place since 1918, many students were denied education and

     Chapter two describes the general education reform movement that has resulted in enhanced curriculum for all students. There has been a separate reform movement in special education that has also resulted in restructuring student placement and service delivery systems for these students. Most recently, the two reform movements are beginning to converge. The general education reform was started when a national commission report, A Nation at Risk, recommended educational improvements because U.S. students did not compare favorably in testing results with their counterparts in Japan and Germany. This has resulted in local school districts taking more direct responsibility for decision-making that would affect all students and has included a stronger parent role in advocating for change. Along with this type of school reform, there has been a focus on schools providing comprehensive services for students and families that face multiple hurdles so that families can have their needs met for social, mental and public health services and coordinated in a single point of entry- the school.

Special education creates opportunities for students, parents, teachers and related staff and administrators to work together to improve educational results students with disabilities. IEPs and 504s are the plans that help educators to develop education for each student with disabilities. The IEP is an important legal document that handles issues in special education properly. There are so many rules that school personnel must follow. In this assignment, I will identify effective procedures for documentation and remediation of the teacher, her behaviors and the allegations about her regarding a special education student.