A Teacher’s Guide to Special Education

Despite the prevalence of students with disabilities in the general education classroom, few teachers receive training on how to meet these students’ needs or how to navigate the legally mandated processes enumerated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). What is their role? What are their responsibilities? What must all teachers do to ensure that students with disabilities and other students at risk receive the quality education to which they’re entitled?

In this practical reference, David F. Bateman—bestselling author of A Principal’s Guide to Special Education—and special education administrator Jenifer L. Cline clarify what general education teachers need to know about special education law and processes and provide a guide to instructional best practices for the inclusive classroom.

• Chapter 1: Special Education and the Laws That Affect It
• Chapter 2: Educational Frameworks and the Pre-Referral Process
• Chapter 3: The Referral and Evaluation Process
• Chapter 4: General Education Teachers and IEPs
• Chapter 5: Other Students Who Require Accommodations
• Chapter 6: Transition
• Chapter 7: Classroom Management and Student Behavior
• Chapter 8: Service Delivery Options, Related Services, and Other Service Providers
• Chapter 9: Assessment, Grades, Graduation, and Diplomas
• Chapter 10: Putting It All Together

David F. Bateman

David F. Bateman is a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches courses about learning disabilities, special education, and special education law to future teachers and administrators. Dr. Bateman has been a classroom teacher of students with learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, intellectual disabilities, and hearing impairments. A former due process hearing officer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and past-president of the Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children, he is public policy chair of the Division for Learning Disabilities and is active in the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities in Washington, D.C. Dr. Bateman has an MEd in special education from the College of William and Mary and a PhD in special education from the University of Kansas. Using his background as a teacher and a hearing officer, he works with school districts that have been recently involved in litigation to help them move forward successfully. He is coauthor of The Principal’s Guide to Special Education and The Special Education Program Administrator’s Handbook.

Jenifer L. Cline

Jenifer L. Cline is a special education administrator in Great Falls Public Schools in Great Falls, Montana. She has an M.A. in speech language pathology from Washington State University and received her special education administrative endorsement from Montana State University Billings. Prior to earning an endorsement for special education administration, she practiced speech pathology in a variety of schools. Ms. Cline has worked as a special education administrator for the last 10 years as both the special education director of a special education cooperative and as a district-level special education administrator. She has presented on administrative topics for the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association, the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), the American Educational Research Association, and the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC). An active member of CASE and CEC, Ms. Cline has served as the president of Montana CASE and on the professional development committee for CASE. She is coauthor of Efficient and Effective Management of Resources and Data: Making It Meaningful.