Special Education in Classrooms Across America

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In classrooms across America, teachers must provide instruction that is culturally, linguistically appropriate as well as based on core standards. Special education gives children instruction based upon their unique needs based on a documented disability. Student disabilities often involve mental, physical, emotional and behavioral issues that makes instruction a challenge. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) "governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education and related services to more than 6.5 million eligible infants, toddlers, children and youth with disabilities." (Building the legacy: IDEA 2004) This law provides guidelines for the educational system to identify, assess and implement education to meet the learning requirements of students with disabilities such as autism, emotional, mental retardation or physical disability. It is important to note that not every child with a disability requires special education - learning must be adversely affected and have one of the categories of special education to quality for services." (Building the legacy: IDEA 2004)
Teachers are the primary source of referrals for special services; however a child's parent or doctor could make a referral. According to Truth in Labeling, they report that 73 - 90% of the teacher referrals are due to academic problems. (Truth in labeling: 2007) In 2010, 53.9 million school-age children (aged 5-17) in America with 2.8 million (5.2%) reported to have a disability. (Brault, 2011) Of the children who receive special education services statistics have shown the averages for students of color are higher than those of white students. Among the many variables: over-referrals, racial bias, p...

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...e of the overrepresentation and with continued research and improved instructional strategies, the gap can be reduced.

References

Brault, M. (2011, November). American Community Service Briefs. Retrieved from School-Aged Children with disabilities in U.S. Metropolitan Statistical Areas: 2010: http://www.census.gov/prod/2011pubs/acsbr10-12.pdf (Brault, 2011)
Building the legacy: IDEA 2004. (n.d.). Retrieved from US Department of Education: http://idea.ed.gov
Gollnick, D. M., & Chinn, P. C. (2009). Multicultural education in apluralistic society. Columbus, OH: Prentice Hall.
Special education law IDEA . (n.d.). Retrieved from Understaning Special Education: http://www.understandingspecialeducation.com/special-education-law.html
Truth in labeling: Disproportionality in special education. (n.d.). Retrieved from National Education Association: www.nea.org/books

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