An Effective Interface between Regular & Special Education: A Synopsis of Issues and Successful Practices. CASE Information Dissemination Packet.

Overview & Synopsis

This information packet attempts to identify issues in the interface between special and regular education and to highlight positive examples of regular education/special education cooperative action. A discussion of issues in the regular/special education relationship focuses on role relationships between regular and special education administrators at both the building and central office levels and notes the lack of consensus concerning role changes. The next section presents a rationale for restructuring regular and special education into a more unified educational system and identifies major issues which cluster around categorization, mainstreaming, instructional practices, and funding. Principles of developing an ideal interface between the two systems are identified, focusing on leadership and a shared commitment to education of students with disabilities. The remainder of the paper examines 10 sets of examplary practices selected from sites nationwide. The practices fall into five areas: (1) identification, (2) referral, (3) instruction/intervention, (4) evaluation, and (5) staff development. Examples are drawn from Idaho, Louisiana, Minnesota, California, Washington, North Carolina, Maine, and Connecticut. Appendices include the following: a paper by Lee J. Gruenwald and Ruth Loomis titled "Evolving Organizational Structures in Special Education: The Madison Example"; forms for referral; forms for identifying exemplary special education programs; and a summary of Project READ data. (Contains 60 references.) (DB)