2012 conventions 2012 election 2013 session 2013 special election arts arts and culture author ballot measures basketball bomb books boy scouts budget bullying business charlie hales children clackamas climate change coal college courts crime culture culture club democrats drugs economy education environment family film fluoride food gay rights guns handguns health health care health insurance high school history housing immigration international internet kitzhaber law legislature lgbt literary arts living marijuana marriage media medicine mental health military minor parties mohamed mohamud movies music native americans news newspaper obama olympics oregon our town parenting pers photography police politcs politics port portland portland business journal president prevention public safety religion republicans rnc romney rural salem sam adams sandy hook schools science shooting sports suicide supreme court taxes technology television terrorism theater third parties transportation union university of oregon washington wildfire women

Children should not be penalized for the failures of their parents, the school district, state policy or implementation of federal law. Children with disabilities are guaranteed a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment -- and that is the general ed classroom for the vast majority of students receiving special education services. According to federal law, the only reason a student should be removed from the regular educational environment is if, "the nature and severity of the disability of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily." This does not necessarily mean that they will be learning the same thing, in the same way, at the same pace as their classmates.

This is a complicated matter, and students needs must be evaluated and addressed on a case by case basis. Implementation will vary from district to district and even school to school, depending on policy, philosophy, funding, school climate, classroom size, and the support and collaboration, or lack thereof, between classroom teachers, special ed teachers, and parents.

posted 5 years, 1 month ago
view in context