WORKING WITH THE WORKING WITH THE LAW: LAW:

CLASSROOM CLASSROOM PLACEMENTPLACEMENT

LAURA KERNLAURA KERN

Description of ProjectDescription of Project

Training Manual for parents on classroom Training Manual for parents on classroom placement for children with special needsplacement for children with special needs

LAW: IDEA and the LAW: IDEA and the Least Restrictive EnvironmentLeast Restrictive Environment

PHILOSOPHY: InclusionPHILOSOPHY: Inclusion

CLASSROOM STRATEGIESCLASSROOM STRATEGIES

MethodMethod

Research, research, research…Research, research, research… Compile research into a paperCompile research into a paper Adapt paper into training materialAdapt paper into training material Make training material into manualMake training material into manual Distribute manual to 3 to 4 parents Distribute manual to 3 to 4 parents

for feedbackfor feedback Incorporate feedback into final Incorporate feedback into final

ManualManual

LawLaw

Individuals with Disabilities Act Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA)(IDEA)

Least Restrictive EnvironmentLeast Restrictive Environment

Statute: “Maximum Extent Appropriate”Statute: “Maximum Extent Appropriate” Regulations: Continuum of Placement and Regulations: Continuum of Placement and

Supplementary ServicesSupplementary Services History behind the statuteHistory behind the statute

LawLaw

LRE ContinuedLRE Continued CasesCases How to look at casesHow to look at cases Brief overview of cases and limitations to Brief overview of cases and limitations to

LRELRE Checklist for parentsChecklist for parents

A series of questions based on A series of questions based on the cases, research and internet sites for the cases, research and internet sites for parents to review when thinking about parents to review when thinking about LRE and placementLRE and placement

PJPJ

PJ SETTLEMENTPJ SETTLEMENT

What it isWhat it is

Who it effectsWho it effects

Larger implicationsLarger implications

Components of the Components of the AgreementAgreement

Scenario of DiscussionScenario of Discussion

PhilosophyPhilosophy INCLUSIONINCLUSION

What does in mean? Is there one uniform What does in mean? Is there one uniform definition?definition?

StatutesStatutes

Research such as journal articles, then more Research such as journal articles, then more popular popular sources, such as internetsources, such as internet

Position of AgenciesPosition of Agencies

Differences between inclusion, integration, Differences between inclusion, integration, and and mainstreammainstream

Concerns of ParentsConcerns of Parents

What does the research say about What does the research say about concerns of parents about inclusion?concerns of parents about inclusion?

Characteristics of InclusionCharacteristics of Inclusion

What does the research say?What does the research say? What can be found in popular media?What can be found in popular media? What are the drawbacks?What are the drawbacks? What are the benefits?What are the benefits? Syracuse Univ. Center on Human Syracuse Univ. Center on Human

PolicyPolicy Discussion topics for parentsDiscussion topics for parents

Clash or Compliment?Clash or Compliment?

LRE V. INCLUSIONLRE V. INCLUSION

Inclusion is not an explicit part of the lawInclusion is not an explicit part of the law

How does inclusion relate to the LREHow does inclusion relate to the LRE

““Maximum Extent Appropriate”Maximum Extent Appropriate”

but don’t forget the but don’t forget the limitations…limitations…

Strategies for InclusionStrategies for Inclusion

Research and popular media Research and popular media combinedcombined

A comprehensive list and explanation A comprehensive list and explanation of strategiesof strategies Such as Modifications, Universal Design, Such as Modifications, Universal Design,

Principal participation, training, person-Principal participation, training, person-centered planningcentered planning

So far, I have a list of 9 subtopics broken So far, I have a list of 9 subtopics broken down further into 42 individual ideasdown further into 42 individual ideas

AppendixAppendix

Cases in greater detailCases in greater detail Checklists and Matrixes for both LRE Checklists and Matrixes for both LRE

and Inclusion and Inclusion Summary of other relevant statutesSummary of other relevant statutes Case Studies for discussionCase Studies for discussion List of Resources, both research List of Resources, both research

based and internet based based and internet based

ConclusionConclusion

Placement alone is insufficientPlacement alone is insufficient Parents need to know what their legal Parents need to know what their legal

rights are on placement issues.rights are on placement issues. Parents need to consider the idea of Parents need to consider the idea of

inclusion from multiple angles.inclusion from multiple angles. Parents need to advocate for Parents need to advocate for

strategies that will promote real strategies that will promote real participation in the regular classroom.participation in the regular classroom.

And a final thought…And a final thought…