What Every Principal Needs to Know About Special Education 2/e

Margaret McLaughlin has been involved in special education all of her professional career, beginning as a teacher of students with serious emotional and behavior disorders. Currently she is the associate director of the Institute for the Study of Exceptional Children, a research institute within the College of Education at the University of Maryland. She directs several national projects investigating educational reform and students with disabilities, including the national Educational Policy Reform Research Institute (EPRRI), a consortium involving the University Maryland; The National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO); and the Urban Special Education Collaborative. She also directs a national research project investigating special education in charter schools and leads a policy leadership doctoral and postdoctoral program in conducting large-scale research in special education. McLaughlin has worked in Bosnia, Nicaragua, and Guatemala in developing programs for students with developmental disabilities. She has consulted with numerous state departments of education and local education agencies on issues related to students with disabilities and the impact of standards-driven reform policies. McLaughlin co-chaired the National Academy of Sciences Committee on Goals 2000 and Students with Disabilities, which resulted in the report Educating One and All. She was a member of the NAS committee on the disproportionate representation of minority students in special education. McLaughlin teaches graduate courses in disability policy and has written extensively in the area of school reform and students with disabilities. She earned her PhD at the University of Virginia and has held positions at the U.S. Office of Education and the University of Washington.

Preface to the Second Edition Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction: What Every Principal Needs to Know About Special Education Five Things Every Principal Needs to Know About Special Education Section I. Creating Quality Special Education: Understanding the Basics of Special Education What Is an Appropriate Education? The IEP The Least Restrictive Environment Who Is Eligible for Special Education? Procedural Safeguards - "The Law in Special Education" Other Important Laws Affecting Students With Disabilities Legal Issues and Assessing Students With Disabilities Other Federal Disability Laws Understanding the Differences Among Federal, State, and Local Special Education Requirements Section II. Creating Quality Special Education: The Foundations A New Model of Special Education Access to the General Education Curriculum Understanding Accommodations Developing Standards-Based IEPs Promoting Positive Behavior or How to Avoid the Discipline Problem Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports Building Strong Parent and Family Connections Section III. Creating Quality Special Education: The Context Adopt Evidence-Based Practices What Are Evidenced-Based Practices? The Importance of Using Published Research Quality of Evidence Data-Based Decision Making Creating Shared Responsibility for Students With Disabilities Collaboration Between General and Special Educators Section IV. Summary Glossary References Index

"A practical and useable template for school administrators interested in creating exemplary programs for students with disabilities." -- John Enloe, Director of Pupil Personnel Services "This guidebook provides a solid foundation in special education for principals. The straightforward text will appeal to all building administrators." -- Debi Gartland, Professor of Special Education "The book made me think a great deal about the leadership behaviors and content knowledge needed to create school programs that are effective for all children. The author has done a good job of pulling together critical information for principals." -- Jane Belmore, Adjunct Professor "Contains critical information that administrators need to understand as they navigate through special education policies and procedures. In addition, administrators will discover a practical process for not only improving the quality of special education services, but also for transforming the teaching/learning cycle for all students. The clear explanations and examples contain the research-based ingredients that translate into a recipe for success!" -- Kim Benton, Executive Director of Federal Programs and Special Populations