The Role of the Educator in the IEP Process

A Little History… The 70’s 1. Public Law : Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973

A Little History… The 70’s 2. Public Law : Education for All Handicapped Children Act of Public Law : Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975.

PL : Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 Five major components that affect the classroom and instruction: / A right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) / Nondiscriminatory evaluation procedures / Procedural due process / Individualized education programs (IEP’s) / The least restrictive environment (LRE) Five major components that affect the classroom and instruction: / A right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE) / Nondiscriminatory evaluation procedures / Procedural due process / Individualized education programs (IEP’s) / The least restrictive environment (LRE)

Section 504 and IDEA All Children Section 504 Eligible IDEA Eligible

A Little History… The 90’s October, 1990 – PL becomes Public Law : Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 June, 1997 – Public Law : Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 October, 1990 – PL becomes Public Law : Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 June, 1997 – Public Law : Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997

IDEA 1990 / All references to “handicapped children” were changed to “children with disabilities” / Autism and Traumatic Brain Injury were added as two new categories of disabilities / The definitions of assistive technology device and assistive technology service were added. / Transition services were added and defined. / All references to “handicapped children” were changed to “children with disabilities” / Autism and Traumatic Brain Injury were added as two new categories of disabilities / The definitions of assistive technology device and assistive technology service were added. / Transition services were added and defined.

IDEA 1997 Public Law : Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 / Signed into law on June 4 th, 1997, the amendments reauthorized Parts C-H and made sweeping changes to Part B, the section of IDEA that provides entitlements to school age and preschool students with disabilities. Public Law : Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 / Signed into law on June 4 th, 1997, the amendments reauthorized Parts C-H and made sweeping changes to Part B, the section of IDEA that provides entitlements to school age and preschool students with disabilities.

IDEA 1997 The changes are too numerous to identify individually but were primarily made in the following three areas: / Strengthening parental participation in the educational process / Remediation and disciplinary actions addressing behavior problems at school and in the classroom The changes are too numerous to identify individually but were primarily made in the following three areas: / Strengthening parental participation in the educational process / Remediation and disciplinary actions addressing behavior problems at school and in the classroom

IDEA 1997 / Accountability for student’s participation and success in the general education curriculum and mastery of IEP goals and objectives in the LRE.

IDEA 2004 – The Role of the Educator in the IEP Process 5 Phases of Involvement 1. Pre-referral Intervention 2. Evaluation & Data Collection 3. IEP Team Meetings 4. Implementation of IEP 5. Evaluating & Reporting Student Progress 5 Phases of Involvement 1. Pre-referral Intervention 2. Evaluation & Data Collection 3. IEP Team Meetings 4. Implementation of IEP 5. Evaluating & Reporting Student Progress

A student must not be determined to be a student with a disability if the determinant factor for that determination is: / Lack of appropriate instruction in reading, including the essential components of reading instruction / Lack of appropriate instruction in math; / Limited English proficiency. A student must not be determined to be a student with a disability if the determinant factor for that determination is: / Lack of appropriate instruction in reading, including the essential components of reading instruction / Lack of appropriate instruction in math; / Limited English proficiency.

IDEA – The Role of the Educator in the IEP Process Phase 3 IEP Development & Team Meetings “The IEP team for a child with a disability must include at least one regular education teacher of the child if the child is or may be participating in the general education environment.” [Sec (a)(2)] Phase 3 IEP Development & Team Meetings “The IEP team for a child with a disability must include at least one regular education teacher of the child if the child is or may be participating in the general education environment.” [Sec (a)(2)]

IDEA – The Role of the Educator in the IEP Process “The regular education teacher of a child with a disability, as a member of the IEP team, must, to the extent appropriate, participate in the development, review, and revision of the child’s IEP.” [Sec (d)]

IDEA – The Role of the Educator in the IEP Process What does that mean? The general education teacher must assist with the following seven components of the IEP: / Present Level of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) / IEP goals and objectives What does that mean? The general education teacher must assist with the following seven components of the IEP: / Present Level of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (PLAAFP) / IEP goals and objectives

IDEA – The Role of the General Education Teacher / Positive behavioral interventions and supports / Supplemental aids and services Defined: Specialized equipment, accommodations, or services to assist the student to be successful in the LRE and curricular program (generally the general education curriculum) / Positive behavioral interventions and supports / Supplemental aids and services Defined: Specialized equipment, accommodations, or services to assist the student to be successful in the LRE and curricular program (generally the general education curriculum)

IDEA – The Role of the General Education Teacher / Program Modifications - Classroom management - Teaching strategies - Instructional accommodations / Program(s) and Services based upon LRE & FAPE / State and District Assessments / Program Modifications - Classroom management - Teaching strategies - Instructional accommodations / Program(s) and Services based upon LRE & FAPE / State and District Assessments

IDEA – The Role of the General Education Teacher How do we determine the least restrictive environment?  What factors must be considered? How do we determine the least restrictive environment?  What factors must be considered?

Determining LRE – With Use of Supplemental Aids and Services Each public agency shall ensure: “That to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are nonhandicapped; Each public agency shall ensure: “That to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are nonhandicapped;

Determining LRE – With Use of Supplemental Aids and Services and that special classes, separate schooling or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only if the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplemental aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. [Sec ]

Determining LRE – With Use of Supplemental Aids and Services Three factors to consider in placement: 1)Must be individually determined 2)Cannot be based solely on factors such as the category of disability, significance of the disability, availability of services or space configurations. Three factors to consider in placement: 1)Must be individually determined 2)Cannot be based solely on factors such as the category of disability, significance of the disability, availability of services or space configurations.

Determining LRE – With Use of Supplemental Aids and Services 3)Regulations prohibit denying placement in an age appropriate regular education classroom solely because the student requires curriculum modifications.

What’s My Role at an IEPT Meeting? / General Educator / Special Educator / Educator / Administrator / General Educator / Special Educator / Educator / Administrator

In summary, The reality is that no individual can or should assume full responsibility for a student’s success. The reality is that no individual can or should assume full responsibility for a student’s success.

Teachers, parents, administrators, related services personnel, counselors, students, and the general school community must accept the shared responsibility to provide equal educational opportunities to all students, regardless of their ability levels and individual needs. Teachers, parents, administrators, related services personnel, counselors, students, and the general school community must accept the shared responsibility to provide equal educational opportunities to all students, regardless of their ability levels and individual needs.