Special And Inclusive Education

Question 1

Individualized Education Plan

Answer 1

In summary, an IEP is an individualized plan for educating a child who receives special education services. An IEP contains important information, including information on current performance, special education and related services, participation in testing, environment and accommodations, and measurable and observable annual goals. A team made up of parents and guardians, special educators, general educators, and other professionals develops the IEP. It is reviewed annually and progress is monitored and reported. The IEP is in place to make sure a student receives the support he or she needs to find success in school and reach graduation.

Question 2

Section 504

Answer 2

summary, Section 504 is all about protecting individuals with disabilities and ensuring that they receive equal opportunity. Section 504 is a part of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and includes a much broader set of qualifying criteria than those set forth by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. In schools, students who qualify receive what is known as a 504 Plan, which is reviewed annually. This plan will allow for the appropriate accommodations and modifications necessary to ensure that the student receives a fair and appropriate education. In short, Section 504 exists to support students who may otherwise slip through the cracks.

Question 3

SPED Qualification

Answer 3

There are 14 areas under which a student can qualify for special education services as outlined by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act: autism, deaf-blindness, deafness, developmental delay, emotional disturbance, hearing impairment, intellectual disabilities, multiple disabilities, orthopedic impairment, other health impairment, specific learning disability, speech or language impairment, traumatic brain injury, and visual impairment, including blindness.

Then, we learned that students are referred for special education services after the response to intervention process has proven unsuccessful. This referral process then leads to an evaluation, typically conducted by a school psychologist, for qualification for special education services. This process typically includes psychological testing and the review of assessment data. Finally, we learned that upon qualification, a team of professionals will create an Individualized Education Plan for the student that will outline the services the student will receive.

Step1: recognizing the need 
Step2: intervention through the RTI process
Step3: referral
Step4: evaluation
Step5: recommendation for services
Step6: developing an IEP

Question 4

Response To Intervention (RTI)

Answer 4

To summarize, the Response to Intervention process, or RTI, is a multi-tiered early intervention approach designed to support struggling learners in both academic and behavioral areas. RTI consists of three tiers of interventions: primary, secondary, and tertiary. An estimated 80% of students are successful in tier 1, 15% in tier 2, and 5% in tier 3.

RTI consists of the use of universal screening and progress monitoring in order to make data-based decisions. RTI is not a replacement for special education but rather a way for struggling students to gain rapid support prior to a potential referral for special education services. Through the use of RTI, it is hopeful that fewer students will fall behind in their education.

Question 5

Culturally Responsive Teaching (CRT)

Answer 5

Culture is the social or ethnic group that a person is from. A person’s culture can have an impact on how they learn. Culturally responsive teaching, also called CRT, is a teaching method that involves understanding and focusing on a student’s cultural background. CRT has many benefits, including the fact that students can understand better and become more motivated to learn. Common characteristics of CRT include that it establishes inclusion, encourages personal development and choice, enhances competence, and develops learning values.

Question 6

Improving Gender Equality in Education

Answer 6

A person’s gender is whether they are male or female. Historically, women have faced inequality in education. Many strides were made with the 1972 passage of Title IX, a law intended to end gender inequality in education by requiring schools give girls equal access to sports programs, work to end sexual violence on campus, and end discrimination against pregnant teens. However, there are still some issues with gender inequality in areas of education, like STEM fields, which involve science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. In addition, though women make up more than half of college graduates, only 26% of college presidents are women