Tremendous changes have occurred over the past decade in the provision of services to students with disabilities. Federal mandates continue to define requirements for a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment. Additionally, there has been an increase in the number of lawsuits filed against school districts regarding the provision of educational services for students with disabilities. Case studies are a helpful way to understand these difficult issues. The case studies presented here are actual students eligible for special education and related services. The case studies are represented not to tell districts and parents that this is the only way questions about special education law can be answered, but to provide likely answers along with commentary for analysis. The cases were developed to help new (and experienced) special education leaders and supervisors survive the pressures of working with students with disabilities while working to provide appropriate services and prevent litigation.
Aimed at parents of and advocates for special needs children, explains how to develop a relationship with a school, monitor a child's progress, understand relevant legislation, and document correspondence and conversations.
This supplement for special education courses consists of five short cases for each of the twelve official federal disability areas. It provides vivid, realistic depictions of what it is like to be a student with a disability. Cases include persons of different ages and in different settings. Each case explores the individual's disability and its effect on her or his interactions with parents, friends, community members, and society.
[This text] teaches you how to use the law as your sword and your shield. Learn what the law says about: Child's right to a free, appropriate education (FAPE); Individual education programs, IEP teams, transition and progress; Evaluations, reevaluations, consent and independent educational evaluations; Eligibility and placement decisions; Least restrictive environment, mainstreaming, and inclusion; Research based instruction, discrepancy formulas and response to intervention; Discipline, suspensions, and expulsions; Safeguards, mediation, confidentiality, new procedures and timelines for due process hearings.--Back cover.
2016 was a remarkable year in special education law! Wrightslaw: Special Education Legal Developments and Cases 2016 is designed to make it easier for you to stay up-to-date on new cases and legal developments. You'll learn about emerging issues and trends in special education law, including: *All decisions in IDEA cases by Courts of Appeals in 2016 *Four 2016 Cases of the Year and what made these cases unique *Two new special education decisions from the U.S. Supreme Court that will lead to major changes in how the law is implemented *All guidance letters, memos, and publications published by the U.S. Department of Education in 2016 *Discrimination cases initiated and settled by the Department of Justice *School abuse cases brought by the American Civil Liberties Union *Denied! The inside story about how state employees created a secret cap on the number of children with disabilities who could receive special ed services
This text is designed to provide students with real-life case studies that address important issues within the IDEA and NCLB legislations. Students will see both best practice and less than best practice when they read the cases. It is specifically designed for graduate students who are taking a course in special education law and/or administration. Case Studies in Special Education Law is intended to provide supplemental instruction using real-life cases while studying the law.
Covers IDEA and its accompanying regulations and analyzes cases involving procedural due process, assistive technology, disciplinary sanctions, dispute resolution, antidiscrimination laws, and special services entitlement.
Children and young adults with disabilities possess unique differences and individual needs, making special education programming a complex and sometimes challenging process. Leaders in special education are tasked with overseeing the administration and management of these programs and must often rely on problem-solving and decision-making skills to be effective. While many educational leaders may possess leadership training and experience, they still are unfamiliar with the intricacies of special education and the best practices for services for students with disabilities. Cases on Leadership Dilemmas in Special Education is designed to challenge the problem-solving skills of special education leaders by presenting them with multifaceted, thought-provoking, and practical dilemmas related to special education. This collection of case studies presents contemporary scenarios that address the complex issues and dilemmas leaders encounter when developing, managing, and supporting special education programs and the students who rely on these services. Covering topics such as decolonization, parent advocates, and STEM education, this casebook is a valuable resource for school and district leaders, teacher leaders and educational coaches, consultants, pre-service educational leaders, pre-service and in-service school counselors, pre-service and in-service special educators, librarians, researchers, and academicians.
Enduring Issues in Special Education is aimed at any course in the undergraduate or graduate special education curriculum that is wholly or partly devoted to a critical examination of current issues in special education. The book organizes 28 chapters into seven sections using familiar structuring principles—what, who, where, how, when, why, and whither. Each section begins with an introduction that provides historical, legal, and theoretical background information and organizing commentary for the chapters that follow. The book’s objective, in addition to informing readers about the issues, is to develop critical thinking skills in the context of special education. Key features include the following: Dialectic Format – Each of the 28 chapters presents compelling reasons for addressing the issue at hand and specific ways to do so. Because each issue is written from different perspectives and focuses on a variety of aspects, readers are encouraged to weigh the arguments, seek additional information, and come up with synthesized positions of their own. Organizing Framework – The book’s seven sections have been arranged according to a scheme that is the essence of most investigative reporting and provides a coherent, easy-to-understand framework for readers. Expertise – All chapters are written by leading scholars who are highly regarded experts in their fields and conclude with suggested readings and discussion questions for additional study.
Special education law and practice have undergone profound transformation over the past 50 years. Students with disabilities are now more likely to receive a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment possible; however, the ideals of the law have not always been manifested in effective practice. Although special education services are vastly better today than they were in the early years of public education, current policies and practices continue to result in the under-education of many children with disabilities. This book illustrates key failures of the system within the context of real children’s experiences. The case study approach gives voice to the students, families, and educators who have been let down by the special education process. The goal is to shed light on the flaws and injustices of the status quo. After identifying these problems, the authors offer sound solutions. Section 1 is devoted to issues surrounding identification of students with learning disabilities. These topics include occurrence of inconsistencies in assessment and diagnoses, understanding the struggles of the “slow learner,” and the interference of behavioral challenges with students’ educational performance. Section 2 addresses problems within the evaluation process that negatively influence diagnoses. Discussions include disproportionate representation of students from low socioeconomic backgrounds as well as students of color and bilingual students. Section 3 highlights significant concerns with service provision within the special education realm. The narratives throughout the book present stories of children on the receiving end of a severely fractured special education system. Recommendations focus on solving specific problems, such as inconsistent identification processes and categories, disproportionate representation, ill-conceived IEPs, ineffective specially designed instruction, and poorly implemented RTI programs. The book’s methodological approach affirms that there is much room for reform within both the special education system and the public education system as a whole. This book will be an excellent resource for graduate-level students, practitioners, and teachers in the fields of special education, disability studies, early intervention, school psychology, and child and family services. Additionally, it will be of interest to social workers, counselors, and researchers.
