| The Federal Government passed No Child Left Behind | | | | you think that some of the funds coming from the |
| (NCLB) to ensure that all children are receiving an | | | | federal government could be spent in a better way. |
| education. School districts have until 2014 to | | | | I believe that more Special Educators need to be |
| demonstrate that all children can read and do math at | | | | placed in elementary schools and focusing on getting |
| grade level. This is wonderful, except, what about | | | | our children to read, write and do math at an earlier |
| those students who are dropping out, failing classes, | | | | age. I also think that having more then six students |
| or working below grade level because of some type | | | | to work with at any given time is not helpful to the |
| of disability? | | | | students. Children who are placed in special education |
| As a special educator, I believe we will always have a | | | | classrooms are there because they require more one |
| problem getting our students to achieve the goals | | | | on one to achieve their academic goals. If a special |
| the federal government expects of them. I am | | | | education classroom has 10, 12 or even 17 students |
| speaking to those parents who have children that are | | | | (as some of mine have), it is almost impossible to |
| not doing well in Special Education or school. First, we | | | | make strides with your students. You spend more |
| don't have enough teachers in special education. | | | | time with discipline then education. These children |
| Second, we don't always place children early enough | | | | were placed in special education because they require |
| in their academic life. And finally, we never seem to | | | | a smaller class setting and more time with the |
| have the money to do the things necessary to | | | | teacher. |
| provide our students with the appropriate education | | | | What exactly is a smaller class setting? I have been |
| they require. | | | | asking that question the entire time I have been |
| NCLB has a lot of good words describing how to | | | | teaching special education. When I taught elementary |
| implement changes for students with disabilities to | | | | self-contained, I had 17 students, one aide and the |
| ensure that they receive the best education possible. | | | | students ranged from kindergarten to fourth grade |
| But, haven't we been trying to do that all along? | | | | (all exceptionalities). In middle school, I ran a |
| There is no assurance that your child will receive a | | | | self-contained classroom of 27 students with another |
| good education, unless you are involved with that | | | | teacher and one aide (again, all exceptionalities). In |
| education. | | | | high school, my self-contained class consisted of 24 |
| Don't let someone else write your child's IEP without | | | | students and one aide (mostly emotionally disabled). I |
| you. Be involved in your child's daily school life. Get to | | | | saw these students twice a day in classes of 10 to |
| know his/her Special Educator and any other | | | | 14 each. |
| teachers that he/she is involved with. Spend time in | | | | It's time to make a difference and get back to the |
| your child's classrooms and observe how his/her | | | | way we used to teach our children. We need more |
| teacher teaches. This will tell you a lot about that | | | | one on one, specialized teaching, and time to work |
| teacher. Find out how much money your school | | | | with the student. We also need more parent |
| district receives for the special education department | | | | involvement. Become an active parent in your school. |
| and how they are spending that money. Be vocal if | | | | |