What are five current issues and trends in the implementation of special ed. programs? Pros and cons of each?

Question

thanks in advance!

Answer 1

1. No Child Left Behind requiring all mild to moderate disabilities students to be tested at grade level. Pro: greater
focus on academics at school, even for special education. Con: may not be developmentally/cognitively appropriate, but NCLB is not very flexible. Special ed test scores are mixed with grade-level peers. Encourages administrators to transfer special needs students to other schools.

2. The "explosion" of students with autism (or autism spectrum disorders). Pro: early identification is the most effective. Con: students who are not 'classic' autism are included on the spectrum and are taught using 'classic' autism techniques that were not best practice approaches when those disabilities were labeled differently before 1992.

3. Inclusion of special needs students in general education classes (without additional support staff, etc). Pro: appropriate behavior and academic rigor is modeled. Con: takes time away from instruction of the at-risk students without disabilities who need every minute of focused instruction.

4. Shortage of qualified special education teachers in over 90% of all major school districts. Pro: Only highly qualified teachers will be teaching the students who need the most differentiated instruction. Con: The additional tests and requirements keep people from entering this field that has had severe shortages for decades.

5. Budget used from general fund of students out of proportion to numbers of students with special needs. (20% of the population, sometimes, more than 40% of the budget) Pro: The most academically needy require the most resources to succeed. Con: Cuts to enrichment programs (music, art, sports) can cause borderline students to drop out or fail in basic subjects.

Answer 2

www.ericdigests.org/1992-4/trends.htm

This article might help give you some answers.