ERIC Number: ED476384
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2002-Nov
Pages: 80
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Selected Teachers' Perceptions of Special Education Laws.
Brookshire, Roy; Klotz, Jack
A study investigated the perceptions and level of knowledge of special education law, policies, and procedures among regular education teachers (n=303) and special education teachers (n=52) in Mississippi. The seven principles of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that ensure the delivery of educational services for students with disabilities were specifically addressed (parent participation, least restrictive environment (LRE), Individualized Education Program (IEP), procedural safeguards, appropriate evaluation, zero tolerance, and related services). Results of the study indicate that 94.2% of the special educators either agreed or strongly agreed that they had sufficient knowledge of special education law. The data did not support their perception. Conversely, most regular education teachers indicated that they did not have sufficient knowledge of special education law and the data validated that regular education teachers need training in special education law, practices, and procedures. As expected, special education teachers scored higher than regular education teachers on knowledge of special education law. A finding not expected was that special education teachers scored lowest on questions dealing with IEPs. Regular education teachers most often missed the IDEA component questions related to least restrictive environment. Appendices include assessment materials. (Contains 55 references.) (CR)
Descriptors: Disabilities, Due Process, Elementary Secondary Education, Individualized Education Programs, Knowledge Base for Teaching, Regular and Special Education Relationship, Self Evaluation (Individuals), Special Education, Special Education Teachers, Student Placement, Student Rights, Teacher Attitudes, Teacher Competencies
Publication Type: Reports - Descriptive
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: University of Central Arkansas, Conway.
Identifiers - Location: Mississippi
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A