The Special Education Model Curriculum for Regular and Vocational Educators and Recommendations for Its Use. Report of the Department of Education to the Governor and the General Assembly of Virginia. House Document No. 23.

Overview & Synopsis

A model teacher education curriculum was developed for consideration by Virginia institutions of higher education, local education agencies, and state-operated programs in the provision of preservice and inservice instruction for academic and vocational educators to teach students with disabilities in the regular setting. The Delphi method was used to gather input from stakeholders. A total of 38 reviewers represented various constituencies. Knowledge, skills, and application competency statements were generated under six areas of study: child growth and development; student evaluation; instructional planning; classroom management; integration; and policies and procedures. The model curriculum guides staff development in higher education institutions for serving students with disabilities in academic and vocational classrooms. Four recommendations were made about the curriculum: disseminate to educational programs and facilities for use in training educators; use in training students to recognize individual differences and provide experiences for disabled students; use for special education course work for recertification requirements; and distribute to local school divisions for staff development. (Over half of this document contains five appendices: Virginia House Joint Resolution Number 420, 1991 session; letters; self-study guide--resources for the approval process for programs preparing special educators in Virginia; model curriculum reviewers; and excerpt of revisions of regulations governing the licensure of school personnel.) (NLA)