Cairo Association of Teachers - Newsletter

CAT Tracks for December 15, 2006 ISBE CHANGES SPECIAL EDUCATION RULES

From the Chicago Sun-Times...

Teachers union not sold on speedier special ed help

BY KATE N. GROSSMAN Education Reporter

A dramatic shift in the way special education students get services was approved by the State Board of Education Thursday, despite objections by the state's largest teachers union and some advocates.

Under the new rules, students are to start receiving services as soon as a need arises instead of waiting for them to fall behind so they can be referred for special education, as is currently done. The idea is to try multiple interventions before referring a student for a special education evaluation.

Criticism surfaces

It's an approach in use successfully in many districts, but critics say it can delay a disability evaluation. They also say many schools can't afford to implement the new system well. They want to make it optional.

"We don't believe the capacity is there in every district to do it, and do it well," said Ken Swanson, president of the Illinois Education Association.

In response, the state board pushed the new mandate back one year, to 2008-2009, to give districts more time to prepare.

The board also approved other changes to special education, all prompted by adjustments to federal law.

They ended the long-standing practice of classifying special needs students by disability. Instead, students will be classified by the percent of time removed from a regular classroom. Critics say teacher caseloads will rise under the new classification system.

The state board dropped a controversial proposal to raise from 30 to 40 the percent of students allowed in a general education classroom.

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