The Personnel and Procedures of Special Education Chapter 2 Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 This multimedia product and its contents are protected under copyright law. The following are prohibited by law: any public performance or display, including transmission of any image over a network; preparation of any derivative work, including the extraction, in whole or in part, of any images; any rental, lease, or lending of the program.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Professionals in Special Education Special education teachers Itinerant special educator Bilingual special educator Early childhood special educator Speech/language therapist School psychologist School counselor School nurse Educational interpreter

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Others in Special Education General education teacher Paraeducators Parents Other highly specialized service providers Adaptive physical educator Orientation and mobility specialist Physical or occupational therapist Audiologist

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Eligibility for Special Education

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Intervention Assistance Team of professionals Goal is to help general education teacher to problem solve regarding a student General education teacher provides information on concern and what has already been tried Team generates new ideas and may gather more data Process may be called prereferral.

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Special Education Referral Multidisciplinary team convenes Parents informed of their rights Parents must give permission for initial individual assessment

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Assessment Components Student must be assessed in all areas of suspected need Assessment typically includes: Vision and hearing screening Intelligence testing Achievement testing Social and behavioral functioning Developmental history Other areas needed

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Assessment Procedures Must be nondiscriminatory on a racial or cultural basis Instruments must be valid and reliable Instruments must be administered by trained professionals Testing must be in the language or form most likely to provide accurate information on the child’s abilities Include a variety of assessment tools

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Decision-Making for Special Education Does student have a disability? Does the disability adversely affect educational performance? Is the student eligible for special education and related services?

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 When Student is Eligible for Special Education Individualized education program (IEP) is developed Placement decision is made after IEP is developed

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Monitoring Student Progress Annual review of IEP Update information on student’s functioning Review student’s progress Set goals for the next year Three-year re-evaluation Similar to original eligibility assessment Does student still need special education?

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 An IEP Documents: All decisions made by the IEP team Student’s strengths and needs Special education and related services Supplementary aids and supports

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Members of the IEP Team Student Parents Special education teacher District representative General education teacher Evaluation person Agency personnel Others

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Required Components of the IEP Present levels of performance Annual goals and short term objectives Special education and related services Supplementary aids and services Assistive technology Participation with nondisabled peers Participation in state/district testing

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Additional Components of IEP Dates of service Placement decision Transition services needed at age 16 Age of majority How progress will be measured and reported to parents Other considerations

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Continuum of Placement Options

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 How are Disagreements Resolved? Mediation Impartial professional meets with each party to try to resolve the dispute Due process hearing Formal procedure often resembling a trial Impartial hearing officer makes decision Decision may be appealed

Copyright © Allyn & Bacon 2006 Issues Related to Special Education Professionals and Procedures Shortage of special education teachers 98% of urban school districts have immediate openings for special education teachers Special education paperwork IEP meetings and developing IEPs require significant amounts of time