RUNNING HEAD: Six Principles of IDEA
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Six Principles of IDEA
Courtney Francis
DSU
7 April 2010
Six Principles of IDEA
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ABSTRACT
IDEA was created in 1975 which was based off of six principles. These six principles
include zero reject, nondiscriminatory identification and evaluation, free appropriate public
education, least restrictive environment, due process safeguards, and shared decision making.
Zero reject were the school cannot discriminate against a student with a disability.
Nondiscriminatory identification and evaluation schools must use appropriate material when
testing a student and cannot be biased. Free, appropriate public education requires an IEP for all
students in special education along with allowing all kids with disabilities to go to school for
free. Least restrictive environment means the students must be in the regular classroom as much
as possible. Due process safeguard is where students’ and parents’ information is protected.
Finally, shared decision making sure the parents and teachers share the decision on what is best
for the student.
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Individuals with disabilities education act (IDEA) was passed in 1975 (Heward, 2009). It
was set in place to help with children disabilities and make sure they are not decremented
against. There are six main principles that must be followed when talking about IDEA. They
include zero reject, nondiscriminatory identification and evaluation, free appropriate public
education, least restrictive environment, due process safeguards, and shared decision making.
Zero reject is when a school must educate all children with disabilities (Heward, 2009,
p.19). To explain further, let’s look at Billy. Billy is a student that has autism. As a school
district no one is allowed to turn Billy away just because he is different than the rest of the kids.
The school will need to fill out an IEP that will state that they will help Billy learn in the
classroom. The same goes for any student that goes to school, no one is to be turned away just
because they have a disability even if it is something big like autism in the case of Billy. Zero
reject gives every student has the right to go to school and receive special education.
Nondiscriminatory identification and evaluation means schools must be nonbiased, use
multifactored methods of evaluation to determine whether a student has a disability (Heward,
2009, p.19). Susan is a girl that came to the United States from Mexico. As a school, they must
be nonbiased and cannot assume just because she is from Mexico that she needs to be put in
Special Education. Susan stills needs to go through all the testing just like every other kid. The
most important thing is that all testing given to Susan in her native language, just like it would be
if you were giving the test to someone who speaks English. Nondiscriminatory identification and
evaluation makes sure a school is nonbiased to students and gives them everything they need, in
the way of tests, or if they would need special equipment, just like you would for any other
student in your classroom.
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Free appropriate public education is the one principle that requires an individualized
education program (IEP) along with providing a free education to students with disabilities at no
cost to the parents (Heward, 2009, pg.19). Every student in a special education program must
have an IEP. The IEP must state what the students disability is like if Danny has learning
disability it will need to state how the school is going to go forward and help Danny Erica. IEP
must include the present level of the student, identify goals, and describe how the special
education program is going to help the student attain their goals (Heward 2009, pg.19). So if
Danny has a learning disability the IEP team which includes his primary teachers, special
education teacher, the parents, Danny, and a local education agency must sit down and come up
with a solution on how they are going to work together and have Danny learn what everyone else
is learning in the classroom, along with keeping him in the regular classroom has much as
possible. Free appropriate public education requires an IEP that needs to explain what the plans
are to help the student learn.
Least restrictive environment means that the student needs to be in the regular classroom
as much as possible (Heward, 2009, pg.19). Sophia has a learning disability that makes her leave
the regular classroom for reading. While Sophia is not in the regular classroom for reading she
will be in the special education classroom where she learns her reading material, but for the rest
of the day she will be in classroom learning the same material as every other kid in the
classroom. With having Sophia leave the classroom for reading it allows for her to get the most
out of learning the reading material, rather than be lost in the regular classroom. While rest of the
day Sophia will be able to stay in the regular room, like when learning math and fill like every
other student in the room. Least restrictive environment allows students with a disability to stay
in the classroom as much as possible and be with their peers.
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Due process safeguard is where the school must provide due process safeguards to
protect the rights of children with disabilities and their parents (Heward, 2009, pg.22). Meaning
that all the information taken for a student needs to be protected and the information being
discussed in an IEP meeting is safeguarded. If the school and parents disagree on something they
are able to do a due processing hearing (Heward, 2009, pg.22). So if parents and teachers do not
agree on something parents are able to call a hearing. Along with parents being able to call
hearings, the school is responsible for keeping students and parent’s information private and the
release of any information needs the consent of the parent.
Shared decision making is when schools collaborate with parents (Heward 2009, pg.22).
When it comes time to make decisions on the students special education school career both the
parents along with the student need to be on the same page as the teachers with the special
education program. Lilly has a learning disability that needs special attention on math; both the
teachers and parents need to make sure they combine what they both want. Lilly’s parents want
her in the special education classroom for math and the special education does not think Lilly
should leave the classroom during math. So with shared decision making they come up with the
plan that Lilly will stay in the regular classroom during the lesson, then once the lesson is over
with Lilly will go down to the special education classroom to work on her math with the teacher
in the classroom. So there was some shared decision making on both parts, the parents wanted
Lilly to be in the special education during math time, but the special education teacher and
teacher thought she did not need to be pulled out, so they compromised on Lilly being in the
classroom for the lesson then leave to work on the assignment. So shared decision making is
very important to make sure everyone receives what they want.
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IDEA is a component with six principles that are different from one another, but are all
incorporated in some way or another. The six principles include zero reject where no child can
be rejected from a school cause of a disability. Nondiscriminatory identification and evaluation is
where schools must use nonbiased, mutifactored methods of evaluation. Free, appropriate public
education is where an IEP must be developed for each child in special education. Least
restrictive environment is when students must be educated with children without disabilities to
the maximum extent allowed. A due process safeguard is where parents’ and children’s rights are
protected. Finally, you have shared decision making when the school must collaborate with the
parents.
Maybe put a closing statement at the end of your conclusion to sum up your entire paper. I really
like how you give specific examples throughout.
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References
Heward, William, L. (2009) Exceptional Children: An Introduction to Special Education. New
Jersey: Pearson.