1. P.J. ET Al v. STATE OF CONNECTICUT BOARD OF EDUCATION, ET AL Explanation of the Law behind inclusion practices. Created by: Katie Seifert

2. What is Inclusion? One definition of inclusion is: Inclusive education means that all students in a school, regardless of their abilities in any area, become part of the school community. That the learning community is committed to educating each child in the school and classroom he or she would otherwise attend. It involves bringing the support services to the child (rather than moving the child to the services).

3. Explanation of the Law behind inclusion practices. In December 1993 a class action lawsuit was filed by the families of five school-aged students with mental retardation who were not receiving services within a regular education classroom setting. The court case is know as: P.J. ET Al v. STATE OF CONNECTICUT BOARD OF EDUCATION, ET AL The case was settled in the federal courts on May 22, 2002. This settlement agreement states that the Connecticut State Department of Education demonstrate progress each year in the five goals and outcomes outlined. The court will be monitoring the CSDE for five years and will entertain Plaintiff’s motion for non-compliance for a period of eight years.

4. The Five Goals of the P.J. Settlement Agreement 1.An increase in the percent of students with mental retardation or intellectual disabilities who are placed within regular education classrooms for 80% or more of their day. (time with non-disabled peers) 2.A reduction in the disparate identification of students with intellectual disabilities by ethnic, racial or gender groups. 3.An increase in the mean and median percent of the school day that students with mental retardation or intellectual disabilities spend with non-disabled peers 4.An increase in the percent of students with mental retardation or intellectual disabilities who attend the school they would attend if they were non-disabled. 5.An increase in the percent of students with mental retardation or intellectual disabilities who participate in school sponsored extracurricular activities with non- disabled peers.

5. How this initiative will be implemented within the classrooms? Students are integrated with their classes. They physically sit with the rest of the students. Students are learning same material but are accessible to helpful theme related resources. Students receive extra help and reinforcement through Special Education resource teacher both in regular ed. Classroom and Resource room. Differentiated learning takes place in classroom. http://www.uni.edu/coe/inclusion/strategies/inclusive_classroom.html