Involvement of General Education Teachers in the IEP Process. QTA Forum: A Brief Analysis of Critical Issues in Special Education.

Overview & Synopsis

This report analyzes information received from 37 states and non-state jurisdictions related to the new provision in the 1997 Amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that requires participation of general education teachers in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) process. Analysis indicates: (1) 15 of the states reported that general education participation in the IEP process is not new and that general education participation in the IEP process is a statutory and/or regulatory requirement; (2) respondents indicated support for the new IDEA requirement of involving the general education teacher in the IEP process, however, the logistics of such involvements are a significant challenge; (3) 12 of the 37 respondents commented on resource implications for supporting the participation of general education teachers in the IEP meetings, including the need to hold IEP meetings after school or in the evenings, to hire substitute teachers to cover for general education teachers, and for school-level administrative support for general education involvement in the IEP process; and (4) the need for professional development of both general and special education teachers in collaboration, co-teaching, linkage of IEP goals with standards, and the role of special education in enhancing access to the general curriculum. (CR)