The Essentials of Special Education Advocacy: : Special Education Law, Policy, and Practice Andrew M. Markelz Rowman & Littlefield Publishers

Description

The Essentials of Special Education Advocacy is a valuable tool for preservice and inservice special education professionals who seek to advocate for their students and their profession. Although significant progress has been made regarding the education of students with disabilities, much work remains. This book provides a framework and a step-by-step guide to systematically understand challenges and organize advocacy efforts for special education professionals to continue the historical progress and propel the next generation of change agents.

Preface
Section I: Foundations of Special Education
1 The Government
What 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 Advocacy
3 Ring of Self Advocacy
Figure 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
References
5 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 Advocacy
Figure 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 Disabilities
Figure 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 Shortage
What 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 Education
Figure 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
Index
About the Authors

Product details

Published	01 Aug 2023
Format	Hardback
Edition	1st
Extent	204
ISBN	9781538172469
Imprint	Rowman & Littlefield Publishers
Illustrations	57 b/w illustrations; 10 tables
Dimensions	237 x 158 mm
Series	Special Education Law, Policy, and Practice
Publisher	Bloomsbury Publishing

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.

Choice Reviews
This book is an essential advocacy tool for all educators—not just those working with special education students. The authors’ 'rings of advocacy' approach provides a practical and thoughtful framework to implement when working through complex situations involving students, special education policies and laws, and difficult decision-making processes. Using these processes will not only support students as learners but also bolster how educators demonstrate and share their expertise when navigating the complex processes that exist within special education today.

Gretchen Oltman, Creighton University
Children benefit when teachers are empowered to act as agents of change. This book is a terrific road map for how teachers’ advocacy can make a meaningful difference in the educational experience of students with disabilities.

Miranda B. Johnson, director, Education Law and Policy Institute, Loyola University Chicago School of Law; co-editor, Discipline Disparities Among Students with Disabilities: Creating Equitable Environments
This is a great book for any educator looking to make a difference in the field of special education. The authors share the 'rings of advocacy', provide multiple advocacy opportunities within each ring, and guide you through the process of advocacy at all levels. This book would make a great addition to any college course, professional development, or even school book study!

Kathleen Boothe, Southeastern Oklahoma State University
The Essentials of Special Education Advocacy is a key resource for many audiences—preservice teachers and administrators, working teachers and administrators, parents of children with disabilities, and advocacy organizations can benefit from this text. I especially recommend this text for survey courses in undergraduate and graduate special education and professional development for special education teachers and administrators. Each section has clearly explained content with up-to-date information grounded in realistic case study examples, and the tables and figures are well developed and support the content. Each topic area is covered thoughtfully with excellent connection to current research.

Katrina Arndt, St. John Fisher University
As a parent, guardian, and special educator I found that The Essentials of Special Education Advocacy was an excellent resource for new and current advocates for the rights of individuals with exceptionalities. This book is a family friendly resource that explains complex topics of special education in a way that all can understand. I plan on adding this advocacy book to my Legal Issues in Special Education course required reading.

Gwendolyn K. Deger, Westminster College