EDUC 2060 - Introduction to Special Education Professional Practices

Credits: 3
Hours/Week:
Course Description: This course introduces students to the legal and ethical foundations of special education, examining the policies, practices, and programs associated with being a Special Education teacher.  This class is a requirement in the Minnesota State Special Education Transfer Pathway AS degree and meets Board of Teaching standards.
MnTC Goals
None

Prerequisite(s): Course placement into college-level English and Reading OR completion of ENGL 0950  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of RDNG 0940  with a grade of C or higher and qualifying English Placement Exam OR completion of RDNG 0950  with a grade of C or higher and ENGL 0090  with a grade of C or higher OR completion of ESOL 0051  with a grade of C or higher and ESOL 0052  with a grade of C or higher.
Corequisite(s): None
Recommendation: None

Major Content
1. Foundations of SPED

1. Historical
2. Ethical
   1. Standards of effective practice
3. Legal
   1. Legislation
      1. Federal
      2. State

2. Components of the Educational System

1. Grade-Level (general education)
2. Prevention efforts/early intervention
3. Intervening services
   1. Title I
   2. English language learners (ELL)
   3. Section 504 accommodations
   4. Gifted education
   5. SPED

3. Role/responsibility of SPED

1. Individualized planning and programming
   1. Referral
   2. Evaluation
   3. Planning
   4. Programming

4. Parent and Family Involvement

1. Parent-professional relationships
2. A Family Systems Approach
3. Disability and impact on family unit

5. Overview of intersection of legal, judicial, medical, and educational systems

1. Key litigation and legislation
2. Least restrictive learning environment (LRE)
3. Exceptionalities with medical diagnosis and treatment

6. Emerging practices relevant to SPED

1. Access and evaluate research relevant to the field of SPED
2. Professional reflection to newly acquired knowledge

1. explain student rights and teacher responsibilities to equal education, appropriate education for students with disabilities, confidentiality, and privacy.
2. explain the role of the special education system that provides free appropriate public education to eligible students qualifying under IDEA..
3. identify the relationship of special education to other components of the education system, including access to grade-level content standards, prevention efforts and early intervening services.
4. explain the historical and philosophical foundations, legal bases, ethical principles, and standards of professional practice pertaining to the education of individuals with disabilities.
5. analyze the importance and utility of parent involvement in student academic achievement, and the implications for the provision of educational services.
6. explain the legal, judicial, medical, and educational systems, their specialized terminologies, and implications in serving students with disabilities.
7. explain the roles and organizational structures of general and special education.
8. evaluate information, research, and emerging practices relevant to the field of special education from consumer and professional organizations, peer-reviewed journals, and other publications.

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