Special education teachers have secrets. It's true that special education teachers cannot or will not tell you everything you should know about your child's special education program. Learn ten of the top secrets your special education teacher wish you knew.
10. Special Education Secret #10 - Your Advocate Is Not Helping You
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Special education teachers and administrators will rarely tell parents when their advocates are not helping their case. There are some excellent special education advocates out there. There are also some who don't help and can actually make things worse for you. Despite this, special education staff usually will not tell you. Why?
- Special education teachers may see you as unapproachable once an advocate is involved.
- They believe you will not listen to them or that the advocate will use their words against them.
9. Special Education Secret #9 - We Can't Mention Costs - but . . .
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Special education staff will rarely tell you that they can't pay for what you're asking for. The IDEA mandates that services cannot be denied on the basis of cost, but special educators know the federal government has never provided sufficient funds to implement that requirement. Special education staff wish you knew that they have little, if any, say in the budget process. Knowing they can meet your child's needs in other ways, special education teachers often try to steer parents away from costly alternatives because they have to. IDEA requires schools to provide an appropriate education -- not the best possible services.
8. Special Education Secret #8 - An IEP Is a Snapshot of Your Child's Program
Special education teachers teach your child much more than what is on the IEP. The IEP includes specially designed instruction to address needs identified by the IEP team. Those important skills are just a small part of your child's overall program. To the maximum extent appropriate, special education teachers and regular ed. teachers will also work on the district's core curriculum standards in addition to the IEP.7. Special Education Secret #7 - The Regular Classroom Can't Do It All
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Special education teachers often agree that most children can benefit from experiences in the regular classroom regardless of their disability. However, some children need to be educated in an environment where there is a lower student-teacher ratio and more flexibility. Special education classrooms can:
- Provide more one-on-one attention;
- Give your child a more private place to work on personal care skills;
- Help avoid negative comments from peers who bully special education students about their academic weaknesses;
- Provide basic skills instruction in the higher grade levels when regular education classes cannot provide it;
6. Special Education Secret #6 - Private Providers May Not Be Helpful
Most special education teachers listen to private practitioners and evaluate the information they provide. In some cases, however, private practitioners offer suggestions that special education teachers do not agree with. Here are some reasons advice is rejected:- The special education teachers believe they are already meeting your child's needs.
- The provider's recommendations are not based on research.
- The provider has no experience working in a classroom situation and lacks credibility.
- The provider's recommendations may be inconsistent with state or local school board standards.
5. Special Education Secret #5 - We Advocate for Your Child
Many special education teachers advocate for their students every day. Behind the scenes, they continually work to get supports your child needs to make it through the day. Special education teachers negotiate with other teachers to get your child placed in the right classrooms and to ensure your child's needs are met. Special education teachers often buy materials with their own money and use their own time studying to find better ways to help your child and the school as a whole.4. Special Education Secret #4 - Special Education Teachers are Experts
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Special education teachers rarely brag on themselves. Most probably won't tell you that they have advanced degrees in their profession or participate in ongoing professional development training. Special education teachers won't tell you that they have the same level of training as teachers in private schools, and maybe more. Special education teachers in many states are required to earn master's degrees. Teachers also must continue their professional development throughout their careers to maintain their certification. Many teachers are over-achievers and routinely earn more professional development hours than needed and voluntarily earn national certification although it may not be required.
