Issue # 9: Merger of General and Special Education
Position 4 delves into the matter of merging special education and general education. On the YES selection, Brownell et al believe that to address the “accountability” issue, teachers should acquire dual licenses in both special education and general education (pp. 160) and for special education teachers to use the RTI framework to provide instruction in Tiers 3 and 2 (pp 165). In contrast, on the NO selection, McLaughlin is concerned that a merger will alter the “…purpose of special education in schools” (Behan, pp 176). She feels that there should be a reexamination of IDEA 2004 as “…it is in the best interests of the children and youth with disabilities in American public schools for
Position 4 delves into the matter of merging special education and general education. On the YES selection, Brownell et al believe that to address the “accountability” issue, teachers should acquire dual licenses in both special education and general education (pp. 160) and for special education teachers to use the RTI framework to provide instruction in Tiers 3 and 2 (pp 165). In contrast, on the NO selection, McLaughlin is concerned that a merger will alter the “…purpose of special education in schools” (Behan, pp 176). She feels that there should be a reexamination of IDEA 2004 as “…it is in the best interests of the children and youth with disabilities in American public schools for