Special Education Reform?

 Today, many schools are trying to improve on this inclusion model and least restrictive environment by going from a partial to a full-inclusion model. Schools in the Los Angeles School District have moved a vast majority of their students out of their special education centers within the last three years and into neighborhood schools where they are fully integrated into elective classes like physical education, gardening and cooking. They are also integrated into regular main stream academic classes as well, but it’s usually not to the same degree as electives.

Michigan schools say that want to break down the walls between general education and Special Education creating a system in which students will get more help when they need it, and that support doesn’t need to be in a separate special education classroom.

Some school districts in Portland, Oregon are a little further along than the Los Angeles schools that are just bringing special education students back from special schools and Michigan schools that are just beginning to try full integration of its students and eliminating most of the special education classrooms.

https://open.lshtm.ac.uk/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=13800
https://open.lshtm.ac.uk/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=13787
https://open.lshtm.ac.uk/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=13781
https://open.lshtm.ac.uk/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=13783
https://open.lshtm.ac.uk/mod/forum/discuss.php?d=13780

Being a little further along in the process Portland makes an interesting case study. Many of the parents who initially supported the idea of integrating special education students into regular education classrooms in Portland are now worried about how the Portland Public School System is doing it. Portland is aiming for full-inclusion by the year 2020. However, some of the teachers in Portland are saying, “Obviously the special education students are going to fail and they are going to act out because we are not meeting their needs… If there’s not the right support there, that’s not acceptable, not only for the child, but for the general education teacher as well.”

A Portland parent said, “I would rather have my child feel successful than for them to be ‘college-ready’.” She further states, “I want my children to be good, well-rounded human beings that make the world a better place. I don’t think they necessarily need to go to college to do that. I think that children are individuals, and when we stop treating them as individuals, there’s a problem.” Sadly, many parents and teachers have left the Portland School District, and many more are fantasizing about it because they feel the full-inclusion model isn’t working there how they pictured it would.

How much should schools integrate the special education students is the burning question of the hour. In my personal experience some integration is not only possible, but it’s a must. With some support many of the special education students can be in the regular education classrooms.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Challenges and Opportunities

  Introduction: The job market in Pakistan has undergone significant changes in recent years, shaped by economic, social, and technological factors. As the country's population continues to grow and industries evolve, the employment landscape presents both challenges and opportunities for job seekers. In this article, we explore the current state of jobs in Pakistan, the challenges faced by the workforce, and the potential avenues for growth and development. Economic Factors and Unemployment: Pakistan's economy has experienced fluctuations, impacting the job market. Economic instability, inflation, and fiscal deficits have contributed to unemployment rates, making it challenging for recent graduates and skilled professionals to find suitable jobs. Addressing macroeconomic issues and promoting sustainable economic growth is crucial to alleviate unemployment pressures. Skills Mismatch: One of the significant challenges in the job market is the disconnect between the skills posses
Read more

A Brief History of Special Education

  Over the last 20+ years I have been on both sides of education. I have seen and felt what it was like to be a regular main stream educator dealing with special education policy, special education students and their specialized teachers. I have also been on the special education side trying to get regular education teachers to work more effectively with my special education students through modifying their instruction and materials and having a little more patience and empathy. Furthermore, I have been a mainstream regular education teacher who taught regular education inclusion classes trying to figure out how to best work with some new special education teacher in my class and his or her special education students as well. And, in contrast, I have been a special education inclusion teacher intruding on the territory of some regular education teachers with my special education students and the modifications I thought these teachers should implement. I can tell you first-hand that non
Read more

Winter Essential: Discover the Luxurious Wearable Blanket Hoodie

With winter months just nearby, most people are gearing approximately cuddle up within their comfortable covers while drinking a popular glass of cocoa. However, what if we told you that you could have the convenience of a blanket while still being capable to maneuver and do your everyday work? Sure, you study it appropriate! The remedy in your winter months woes is a  hoodie blanket . With this article, we shall be talking about almost everything you should know about this winter months crucial, so let’s dive in. Just what is a wearable blanket hoodie? A wearable blanket hoodie is a combination of a hoodie as well as a blanket. It was created to provide the convenience and ambiance of your blanket yet still be able to move around without the headache. Usually, wearable blanket hoodies are made of delicate and cozy materials like fleece, Sherpa, or flannel. How to choose the best wearable blanket hoodie? When it comes to picking the right wearable blanket hoodie, there are actually han
Read more