Special Education

A. The six key components are as follows:

1. Zero Reject/FAPE: This says that all children ages 6-17, no matter what their physical/mental ability, are guaranteed the right to a free public education.

2. Nondiscriminatory Identification and Evaluation: This was put into place so that a child could not be placed into special education because of things such as a language barrier. Because of this component, for example, a child would not be assessed in English if their primary language was Arabic.

3. Individualized Education Program (IEP): This says that every student must be given a customized plan for their education. Each students IEP must do the following; present levels of educational performance, measurable annual goals, objective criteria and evaluation procedures, specific special education services, extent of participation in general education and explanation of non-participation, modifications to general education classrooms, and projected dates of initiation and length of services.

4. Least Restrictive Environment (LRE): This means that all children, with and without disabilities, should be education together unless it is not what is best for the child.

5. Due Process: A system of checks and balances to make sure children with disabilities are treated fairly. This includes; written parental consent for evaluation of special education, written parental permission for placement in special education, parents rights to review children’s records, parental right to an independent evaluation for child, parental and institutional rights to a hearing, parents and institutions right to appeal, and everyone’s rights to confidentiality.

6. Parental Participation: Parents have the right to be included in everything. Schools have to communicate everything to parents at all times (The Education).

B.

1.