SPECIAL EDUCATION ADMINISTRATION

Professor Robert WhytalBy Ancizar Perdomo TorresVCU Master’s of Education

ADA:IDEA:LEA:FAPE:IEP:PLOP:

A guide for Special EducationYouTube - Introduction to Special Education

ADAADA stands for “Americans with Disabilities

Act”, which is a statutory law signed up by President George Bush in 1990. It guarantees that all American citizens be treated with dignity, and be not discriminated against. According to Martin’s County Community online service, more than fifty million Americans have some kind of physical or mental disability.

Quick Quiz for unquiet minds!YouTube - Special Education

IDEAIDEA Stands for “Individuals with Disabilities

Education Act.”IDEA is the national policy for the education

of children with any kind of disability, ages 2 – 21

This piece of Legislation rules the education of exceptional children all over the U.S.A.*

LEALEA Stands for “Local Education Agency” or

“Local Board of Education”, in the most traditional jargon.

FAPEFAPE Stands for “Free Adequate Public

Education”

It also encompasses special education services that :

are provided at public expense and under public supervision and direction.

Meet the standards of the State Board of Education.

Include an appropriate preschool, elementary, middle and high school.

Are provided in keeping with an IEP.

IEPIEP Stands for “Individualized Education

Plan” An IEP is a legal document with the same

implications of a public contract that must be complied with by the parts involved.

An IEP is also defined as “ a written statement designed to meet a child’s unique needs and must be in effect at the beginning of the school year, before any special education and related services are provided for such child.”

PREVIOUS TO THE IEPBefore the IEP is written there is a protocol to

follow:1. Identification and Referral.2. Evaluation.3. Determination of Eligibility.4.Development of an IEP, and Determination

of Services.5. Reevaluation.

Identification and ReferralCan be done by a parent.Can be done by a regular teacher .Can be done by a school official.

When the child is suspected to have a disability, a referral , which is a written or oral request for an evaluation is given to the school.

Evaluation The School evaluates the child to determine

whether the student has a disability, as well as, the nature and extent of the special education, and related services that the child needs.

Determination of Eligibility Based on the results of the test, a team

decides if the child is eligible to receive special education and related services.

Development of an Individualized Education Program and Determination of Services

If a child is eligible for Special Education and Related Services, a School team and the parent develop and implement an appropriate IEP to meet the needs of the child. The team and the parent will determine the special services the child needs in order to achieve the best education results. This IEP must be reviewed and revised yearly.

ReevaluationAt least every three years, a team must

reevaluate the child to determine whether the child continues to need special education, and related services.

PLOPPLOP Stands for “Present Level of

Performance”. A PLOP is a document which complements the IEP, and is a virtual guide for the IEP. PLOP’s help in the sense that they depict the current level of development of the child, and it permits insights into the next level of development or achievements the student can reach. Goal in the IEP are attained with the help of the special education teacher, the regular teachers, peers, special related services and the least restrictive environment or the inclusion the child is receiving.

Complaints Parents have the right to make a formal

complaint when they believe the IEP for their child is not being fully implemented. It can be formal ( written in a letter to the principal or LEA or it can be also informal ( In interview with the Special Ed team or with a LEA officer.

Due Process HearingThe Department of Education of the State

provides Due Process Hearing