participation The first four principles describe what the schools contribute to the student. Zero rejection is a rule against excluding any student. Non-discrimatory evaluation requires schools to fairly evaluate students to see if they have a disability, and if so, what kind and how extensive. Appropriate education requires schools to provide IEP’s (Individualized Education Program) for children ages three through twenty-one, and IFSP’s (Individualized Family Services Plan) for infants and toddlers. They are also required to augment the programs with related services and supplementary aids and materials. Once a school has enrolled the student, fairly evaluated them, and provided an appropriate education plan, there is one more thing IDEA calls for. That is education with the students who don’t have special needs in the least restrictive environment (LRE). That concept is also known as mainstreaming, integration, and inclusion (Turnbull et al., p23-29). The last two principles are more like checks and balances, which ensures the results of special education are what they should be. Procedural due process is a safeguard for students to ensure their full IDEA rights. This principle also gives them the option to sue in a court of law if their rights are violated. The principle of parental and student participation is a rule requiring schools to collaborate with parents and adolescent students in designing and carrying out special education programs. As evident, special education has vastly improved over the course of the last hundred years. The quality of education given to those with special needs is finally starting to equal that of the non-disabled child. One can only wonder why it took so long if America is indeed, the land of the free, with liberty and justice for all....
