Roger Pierangelo - 100 Frequently Asked Questions About the Special Education Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Educators

This book is dedicated to my wife, Jackie, and my two children, Jacqueline and Scott, who provide me with the love and purpose for undertaking projects that I hope will enhance the lives of others. My life has been blessed by their loving presence. I also dedicate this book to my parents, who provided me with the secure and loving foundation from which to grow; my sister, Carol, who makes me smile and laugh; and my brother-in-law, George, who has always been a positive guiding light in my professional journey.

R. P.

This book is dedicated to my wife, Anita, and two children, Collin and Brittany, who give me the greatest life imaginable. The long hours and many years it took to finish this book would never have been possible without the support of my loving wife. Her constant encouragement, understanding, and love provide me with the strength I need to accomplish my goals. I thank her with all my heart. I also dedicate this book to my parents, who have given me support and guidance throughout my life. Their words of encouragement and guidance have made my professional journey a rewarding and successful experience.

G. G.

Copyright 2007 by Corwin Press

All rights reserved. When forms and sample documents are included, their use is authorized only by educators, local school sites, and/or noncommercial or nonprofit entities who have purchased the book. Except for that usage, no part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher.

For information:

Corwin Press
A Sage Publications Company
2455 Teller Road
Thousand Oaks, California 91320
www.corwinpress.com

Sage Publications Ltd.
1 Olivers Yard
55 City Road
London, EC1Y 1SP
United Kingdom

Sage Publications India Pvt. Ltd.
B 1/I 1 Mohan Cooperative Industrial Area
Mathura Road, New Delhi 110 044
India

Sage Publications Asia-Pacific Pte. Ltd.
33 Pekin Street #02-01
Far East Square
Singapore 048763

Printed in the United States of America

Library of Congress Cataloging-in-Publication Data

Pierangelo, Roger.

100 frequently asked questions about the special education process : a step-by-step guide for educators / Roger Pierangelo, George Giuliani.
p. cm.
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN 978-1-4129-5422-8 (cloth) ISBN 978-1-4129-1790-2 (pbk.)
1. Special educationUnited States. I. Giuliani, George A., 1938- II. Title.
III. Title: One hundred frequently asked questions about the special education process.

LC3981.P538 2007

371.9dc22 2006102675

This book is printed on acid-free paper.

07 08 09 10 11 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1

100 Frequently Asked Questions About the Special Education Process: A Step-by-Step Guide for Educators has been developed as an overview and introduction to understanding special education services mandated by federal and state law. There have been many recent changes to the laws guiding special education across the country. It is important to provide information and training for both general and special educators on those changes so that they can be effective teachers when working with exceptional children.

As a professional, you will be working with many professional disciplines in the special education process. You will also need to help parents of children with special needs understand the special education process. Many have no idea about special education and what it really means. As you may be aware, parents and family members are as critical partners as school district personnel in the education of their children. Parents provide essential information to teachers and administrators, play an important role in decisions made about their children, and can be a key to supporting high expectations for their children during their school years (Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities, 2002).

100 Frequently Asked Questions About the Special Education Process provides information about laws, regulations, and policies affecting special education programs and services. These protections, rights, and opportunities will best help students reach their full potential when parents, families, and schools work collaboratively. Setting high expectations for students and high standards for programs will provide the greatest opportunities for a successful adult life (Office of Vocational and Educational Services for Individuals with Disabilities, 2002).

100 Frequently Asked Questions About the Special Education Process was written to explain the special education process so that, if a child in your class or school does receive special education services, you can work effectively with the administrators, parents, other professionals, and the outside community as a member of the special education team. Special education is meant to meet the unique needs of a child that result from a disability and to ensure that students with disabilities receive all needed aids and services. Special education laws and regulations are meant to protect a student with disabilities and ensure that he or she gets the services and assistance that are necessary to make effective progress. The laws and regulations are also very complex.

100 Frequently Asked Questions About the Special Education Process has been developed to answer frequently asked questions about special education. While it is not a complete statement of the procedural safeguards that must be offered, it does describe the key points of state and federal laws affecting the provision of special education and is intended to help give you a working knowledge of the special education process. We hope 100 Frequently Asked Questions About the Special Education Process will be helpful to you in understanding the key concepts of the law and how to be an effective participant in the special education process as an educator of exceptional children.

In the course of writing this book, we have encountered many professional and outstanding sites. Those resources have contributed and continue to contribute enormous information, support, guidance, and education to parents, students, and professionals in the area of special education. Although we have accessed many worthwhile sites, we especially thank and acknowledge the National Dissemination Center for Children with Disabilities, the Alaska State Department of Education, and the National Institutes of Health.