Special Education Law:

Roles and Responsibilities

Anchorage School District Special Education Department

The law mandates that special education students be provided the opportunity to gain the skills and acquire the knowledge that will allow them access, meaningful progress and educational benefit within the general classroom environment. These mandates are legally binding and enforced. They have changed the face, perception, roles and responsibilities of both special and general education. Special education is no longer a separate service, alternative curriculum or place, but the means to provide special education students with the opportunity to access and participate in general education.

The role of general educators is very important to the special education process and includes these areas of participation:

• Identification (Child Find)
• Interventions
• Evaluation
• Placement
• Accommodations / Modifications
• IEP team participation
• Implementation and on-going evaluation of accommodations / modifications and IEP goals and objectives

• The Online Special Education Handbook: This includes both State regulations and District policies.
• Complying with IDEA 2004: Links to resources on IDEA.

It is through the strength of the team

that we can make a difference

for all students.