Challenges with Secondary Special Education January 13, 2009

Challenges of Secondary Special Education Quality and quantity of services inferior to elementary services Repetition or continuation of elementary level programs Teachers use strategies and instruction not validated for secondary students Materials are often intended for elementary students or secondary students without disabilities

Issues Relevant to Adolescents with Disabilities Reduced rates of academic success Increased drop out rates Increased rates of delinquency Lower attendance in post-secondary education Lower employment rates Reduced earning power Lower rates of satisfaction with adult life

Roles of the Secondary Special Education Teacher Co-teach in general education Consult with general educators Coordinate work experiences Provide vocational instruction Develop Complete assessments Schedule and attend meetings Remediate basic skills Teach learning strategies Promote social and emotional growth Support students in their content area classes, and Teach functional living skills

A Disconnect “participants felt that the general education curriculum and classroom teachers were not responsive to student needs, often to the extent that they advocated for more self-contained special education classes” (Wasburn-Moses, 2006, 27).