Special Education Law:

Roles and Responsibilities

Anchorage School District Special Education Department

General Educators' Contractual Implications

Condition of general educator’s employment in a public system
Obligated to obey all laws / regulations governing education of students in their care
Obligated to participate in the education of students with disabilities
Required to play a significant role in the education of special education students

Alaska State Teaching Standards

	A teacher creates and maintains a learning environment in which all students are actively engaged and contributing members.
	A teacher accurately identifies and teaches to the developmental abilities of the students.
	A teacher applies learning theory in practice to accommodate differences in how students learn, including accommodating differences in student intelligence, perception, and cognitive style.
	A teacher identifies and uses instructional strategies and resources that are appropriate to the individual and special needs of students.

Facts

When general education participation in the special education process is required for development and implementation of an IEP, it becomes a part of the disabled student’s entitlement to education.

More general education teachers are being drawn into current legal disputes with serious legal and financial consequences for the District, but also, in certain circumstances, for the individual teacher as well.

Current Court Rulings

Doe et al. v. Withers, 20 IDELR 422
(West Virginia Circuit Court, Taylor County (1993))

High School Social Studies teacher was personally fined $5,000 compensatory damages and $10,000 punitive damages plus costs for refusing to provide accommodations and modifications listed on students IEP.

Livingston Township Bd. Of Educ., 40 IDELR 111 (SEA NJ 2003)

Denial of FAPE: 16 year old student was denied accommodations listed on his 504 plan because he was maintaining a high B average (accommodations: CD textbooks and note-takers).

Ruling: district cannot excuse its failure to comply with the accommodations provided in a student’s 504 plan or provide appropriate program based on the student’s good grades.

General Education Participation >

Introduction	General Educators' Contractual Implications	Fulfilling Roles and Responsibilities
General Curriculum Focus	General Ed. Participation in the Sp. Ed. Process	Conclusion
Definitions	Consequences for Non-Implementation	Sitemap