Essentials of Special Education Advocacy

Andrew M. Markelz is an associate professor in the Department of Special Education, assistant department chair, and director of Graduate Studies at Ball State University. Dr. Markelz is editor of the Journal of Special Education Preparation and co-author of The Essentials of Special Education Law. Dr. Markelz is committed to expediting the novice-to-expert teaching curve by preparing special educators to implement proactive classroom management strategies and develop meaningful and legally defensible individualized education programs according to special education law.Sarah A. Nagro is an associate professor in the Division of Special Education and Disability Research, director of the Interdisciplinary Center for Research and Development in Teacher Education, and professor in charge of the Special Education PhD specialization at George Mason University. Dr. Nagro is committed to identifying best practices for preparing professionready teachers who can sustain and grow in the profession to improve the learning experiences of all students including students with disabilities.Kevin Monnin is a doctoral fellow in the Special Education Program at George Mason University. His research interests focus on studying strategies to attract, prepare, and retain high-quality teachers, often including nontraditional methods for preparing teachers in high-needs fields. Mr. Monnin previously worked as a special education teacher for Fairfax County Public Schools in Virginia. He earned his Master of Education in special education at George Mason University and received his bachelor’s in Government and International Politics.David F. Bateman is a principal researcher at the American Institutes for Research. He is a former due process hearing officer for Pennsylvania for hundreds of hearings. He uses his knowledge of litigation relating to special education to assist school districts in providing appropriate supports for students with disabilities and to prevent and to recover from due process hearings. He has been a classroom teacher of students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, intellectual disability, and hearing impairments. Dr. Bateman earned a PhD in special education from the University of Kansas and has published numerous articles and books pertaining to special education law and administration.

Special education teachers play crucial roles in guiding students to become advocates for the accommodations they require to excel in school. This book defines advocacy as the art of leveraging resources and personal connections to improve the quality of education. It empowers teachers to consider advocacy a fundamental aspect of the profession. The authors' central contribution is the “rings of advocacy” model, which explores the potential reach of special educators' influence. Beginning with self-advocacy for teachers to secure the necessary time and resources for effective teaching, the model progressively broadens its scope. It explores how teachers can advocate for improvements at the classroom, school, state, and federal levels. Each level, or “ring,” is addressed in a dedicated chapter in which the authors clarify the policy issues at hand; identify key stakeholders; and offer practical, research-based solutions educators can pursue. As an introductory text on special education, the book offers historical and pedagogical context for key concepts such as Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). What sets it apart is that it invites educators to see these concepts as tools to support their advocacy through the rings of advocacy model. Highly recommended. Undergraduates; professionals; general readers.

• PrefaceSection I: Foundations of Special Education1 The GovernmentWhat Are the Three Branches of Government? Table 1.1. Checks and Balances Legislative Branch Senate House of Representatives Executive Branch Table 1.2. List of 15 Departments within the US President’s Cabinet Judicial Branch Figure 1.1. Geographic Boundaries of US Court of Appeals and US District Courts Table 1.3. The US Circuit Court of Appeals How Are Laws Created? Statutory Law Regulatory Law Case Law How Do the Three Branches of Government and Sources of Law Interact? Figure 1.2. The Three Branches of Government Why Is Knowing about the US Government Important for Advocacy? Where Can I Find More Information about the US Government? Constitution Center USA.gov YouTube Harry S. Truman Library Key Terms Discussion Questions References 2 A History of Advocacy How Has Advocacy Affected Special Education? Before the Education for All Handicapped Children Act After the Education for All Handicapped Children Act Figure 2.1. The Gears of Special Education Who Are Some Key Historical Advocates in Special Education? Parents as Advocates Educators as Advocates Why Advocate for Special Education Today? For Students For Teachers How Do You Advocate for Special Education? Figure 2.2. The Five Rings of Advocacy Where Can I Find More Information on the History of Advocacy? Essentials of Special Education Law Council for Exceptional Children US Department of Education Elizabeth Farrell and the History of Special Education Key Terms Discussion Questions References Section II: Rings of Advocacy3 Ring of Self AdvocacyFigure 3.1. Self-Advocacy Ring What Is the Self-Advocacy Ring and Why Is It Important? What Are Some Current Opportunities for Self-Advocacy? Curricular Resources Role Definition Inclusion Student Behavior Professional Relationships Special Education Teachers of Color Workload Manageability In Summary Table 3.1. Common Issues Facing Special Education Teachers How Do You Advocate for Yourself? Figure 3.2. How to Self-Advocate Identify and Understand the Problem Invite Stakeholders Figure 3.3. The LAFF Don’t Cry Active Listening Strategy Determine Solutions Where Can I Find More Information on Self-Advocacy? From the Field TEACHING Exceptional Children Special Issue on Self-Advocacy Self-Advocacy: Improving Your Life by Speaking Up Speaking Up Is Hard to Do Key Terms Discussion Questions References 4 Ring of Classroom Advocacy Figure 4.1. The Classroom Advocacy Ring What Is the Classroom Advocacy Ring and Why Is It Important? What Are Some Current Opportunities for Classroom Advocacy? Instructional Best Practices Evidence-Based Practices Table 4.1. Evidence-Based Practices across Subjects Universal Design for Learning Multitiered Systems of Support • IEP Legal Compliance Free Appropriate Public Education Least Restrictive Environment • Self-Advocacy through Co-Advocacy How Do You Advocate for Students in Your Classroom? Figure 4.2. Strategies and Examples for Successful Classroom-Level Advocacy Identify and Understand the Problem Invite Stakeholders Determine Solutions Where Can I Find More Information on Classroom Advocacy? Evidence-Based Practices IRIS Module Response to Intervention: Collaborating to Target Instruction Universal Design for Learning Guidelines Universal Design for Learning IRIS Module What Is MTSS? A Blog Post Key Terms Discussion Questions References5 Ring of School Advocacy Figure 5.1. The School Advocacy Ring What Is the School Advocacy Ring and Why Is It Important? What Are Some Current Opportunities for School Advocacy? Related Services Busing Procedures Pull-Out Scheduling Placement Predetermination Discipline Policies Adapted Physical Education How Do You Advocate for Students in Your School? Identify and Understand the Problem Figure 5.2. Organizational Leadership Structure Invite Stakeholders Determine Solutions Where Can I Find More Information on School Advocacy? Advocating for School-Wide Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Lecture on Placement Decisions by Dr. Mitchell Yell Positive, Proactive Approaches to Supporting Children with Disabilities School Discipline for Students with Disabilities Key Terms Discussion Questions References 6 Ring of State Advocacy Figure 6.1. The State Advocacy Ring What Is the State Advocacy Ring and Why Is It Important? What Are Some Current Opportunities for State Advocacy? Teacher Licensure Reading Wars Hot-Button Issues Standardized Assessments How Do You Advocate at the State Level? Identify and Understand the Problem Table 6.1. Advocacy Meeting Checklist Invite Stakeholders Determine Solutions Figure 6.2. Kingdon’s Three Streams Model Where Can I Find More Information on State-Level Advocacy? CEC State and Provincial Units FindLaw.com 50 State Survey of Special Education Laws and Regulations USA.gov Key Terms Discussion Questions References 7 Ring of Federal AdvocacyFigure 7.1. The Federal Advocacy Ring What Is the Federal Advocacy Ring and Why Is It Important? Figure 7.2. Differences between Federal and State Laws What Are Some Current Opportunities for Federal Advocacy? Funding for IDEA Federal Funding to Support Teachers Table 7.1. Federal Funding for Teachers Promoting Diversity in Teacher Education Alternative Routes into the Profession How Do You Advocate at the Federal Level? Identify and Understand the Problem Invite Stakeholders Determine Solutions Where Can I Find More Information on Federal-Level Advocacy? Advocating for the Common Good: People, Politics, Process, and Policy on Capitol Hill Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Site Policy Insider Special Education Legislative Summit Your Voice Matters: A Practitioner’s Guide for Engaging in Policy through Advocacy Key Terms Discussion Questions References Section III: Advocacy in Practice 8 Inclusion of Students with DisabilitiesFigure 8.1. The Five Rings of Advocacy What Are the Issues Concerning Inclusion of Students with Disabilities? Table 8.1. Circuit Court Tests When Determining Least Restrictive Environment How Do You Use the Rings of Advocacy Concerning Issues of Inclusion? The Problem Mr. Jacobs’s Solution Rings of Advocacy Self-Advocacy Ring Classroom Advocacy Ring School Advocacy Ring State Advocacy Ring Federal Advocacy Ring In Conclusion Where Can I Find More Information about Inclusion? 2TeachLLC Blog Intervention in School and Clinic IRIS Center Information Brief: LRE Six Co-Teaching Models Key Terms Discussion Questions References 9 The Special Education Teacher ShortageWhat Are the Issues Concerning the Special Education Teacher Shortage? Retaining Special Education Teachers Attracting Special Education Teachers Preparing Special Education Teachers How Do You Use the Rings of Advocacy Concerning the Special Education Teacher Shortage? Table 9.1. Strategies to Mitigate Special Education Teacher Shortages The Problem Miss Lazaroni’s Solution Rings of Advocacy Figure 9.1. The Five Rings of Advocacy Self-Advocacy RingClassroom Advocacy RingSchool Advocacy RingState Advocacy RingFederal Advocacy RingIn Conclusion Where Can I Find More Information about Teacher Shortages? American Association of Colleges for Teacher Education (AACTE) Action Alerts Journal of Special Education Preparation Teacher Education Division, Council for Exceptional Children Teacher Education and Special Education Key Terms Discussion Questions References 10 Inequities in Special EducationFigure 10.1. The Five Rings of Advocacy What Are Some Issues Concerning Inequities in Special Education? Disproportionality Exclusionary Discipline and Restraint and Seclusion Pandemic-Related Learning Loss How Do You Use the Rings of Advocacy Concerning Issues of Equity? The Problem Miss Jackson’s Solution Rings of Advocacy Self-Advocacy Ring Figure 10.2. The Purpose of an Equity Team Classroom Advocacy RingSchool Advocacy Ring Table 10.1. Disaggregated Discipline Referral State Advocacy Ring Federal Advocacy Ring In Conclusion Where Can I Find More Information about Inequities in Special Education? Significant Disproportionality in Special Education by State School Discipline for Students with Disabilities What Is Culturally Responsive Teaching? Center for Learner Equity US Department of Education Office for Civil Rights Guidance on Discipline for Students with Disabilities Key Terms Discussion Questions References IndexAbout the Authors