General Education Teachers

LAWS FOR GENERAL EDUCATION TEACHERS ABOUT SPECIAL EDUCATION:
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"It's not fair to my other students", "He doesn't want my help anyway", "I didn't sign up for this"- these are all common thoughts, reactions, and emotions a general education teacher may have towards students with developmental disabilities in their class. However, the Northeast Regional Education Cooperation responds to this by saying, "We’re required to provide a free and appropriate public education to students with disabilities who are in need of special education and related services." According to the Individuals with Disability Education Act (I.D.E.A.), the legal responsibilities of a general education teacher is to be a part of the student's Individual Education Plan (IEP) and also a member of the IEP team. An IEP is a customized plan for a student which includes learning goals, support services (if needed by the student), and any material and/or instructional methods the student may require in order to attain the leaning goal. The IEP team is a group consisting of teachers, faculty, and parents who monitor and coordinate the students progress. They also make sure the student is getting all that is necessary in order to reach the student's goal. A general education teacher must always ask which student in his/her class has an IEP and if there is an IEP student in a class, the teacher MUST comply with federal laws implemented. These kinds of laws were put in place in order to provide a comfortable and non-biased learning environment for all students.



http://www.rec4.com/pdf/What%20Every%20Gen%20Ed%20Tchr%20Should%20Know....pdf

- Binta Diallo