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

PJPJ PJ SETTLEMENTPJ SETTLEMENT

What it isWhat it isWho it effectsWho it effectsLarger implicationsLarger implicationsComponents of the AgreementComponents of the Agreement

Scenario of DiscussionScenario of Discussion

PhilosophyPhilosophy INCLUSIONINCLUSION

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

StatutesStatutes

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

Position of AgenciesPosition of Agencies

Differences between inclusion, integration, and Differences between inclusion, integration, 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 limitations…but don’t forget the 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…