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What exactly is special
education?
(Compiled using information from www.nysut.org)
Federal and
state education laws require each school district to provide all
students with a "free and appropriate public education" based upon their
unique needs. Special
education is specially designed instruction, services or programs
provided by a school system to help meet the unique needs of students
with disabilities.
In New York
State, special education is provided for pre-school students (ages 3-5) and school-age children (ages 5-21).
Special
education may include specially designed instruction or supplementary
instruction and services provided in the general education class; help
from a consultant teachers; resource room programs; special classes;
home and/or hospital instruction or programs; and services provided in
other public or private schools.
Who receives special-education services?
Special-education services are available to any student with a mental, physical
or emotional impairment that affects his or her educational
performance.
For
school-age children, these may include autism, deafness, deaf-blindness,
emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, learning disability, mental
retardation, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health
impairments, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury or
visual impairment (including blindness).
How are special-education
services provided?
Special-education services and programs may be provided individually to a
student or in a group with other students who have similar educational
needs.
Every school
district is required to form a Committee on Preschool Special Education
(CPSE) for children ages 3-5, and a Committee on Special Education for
children ages 5-21. When a
parent or teacher believes a child might benefit from special education,
the district's committee plays an important role. It reviews referrals
from parents and teachers, arranges for student evaluations and reviews
the results.
In
consultation with the student's parents, the committee makes
recommendations about what a student needs in the way of special-education services and programs, which are described in detail in a
written plan for each child, known as the Individual Education Plan (IEP). The IEP
determines the specifics of a child's special-education program, such as
specific classroom set-up, curricula, support services and educational
goals.
The federal
Individuals Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) establishes a prominent
and active role for parents and teachers in planning and implementing
educational programs for students with disabilities. Parents work hand
in hand with their child's teachers and other district staff to
formulate their child's IEP. A child's
IEP is reviewed annually to ensure that it still is meeting the child's
needs. Students are re-evaluated at least once every three years.
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