Margo Preston EDU 2120 Journal entry – Appropriate Education. We have been studying this in my other Education class – EDU 2110. We actually have read a great deal on what the term adequate education. Every state is able to set standards to address this question. Maryland for example has a definition based on the drop out rate vs the amount of students that meet APY. I was actually shocked to find that an education is not a right.
Sure I am aware it is not covered in the American Constitution, but to see that it is not covered was quite a shock to me. We have children go to school and they are made to by law, but in the same manner we don’t guarantee them a education or even an adequate one or one labeled appropriate. Regarding a special needs student – their rights are projected by section 504 – seeks to protect their right to an education based on correcting any injustices that they may face as a special needs student.
Ed. gov- the US Department states: The Section 504 regulation requires a school district to provide a “free appropriate public education” (FAPE) to each qualified person with a disability who is in the school district’s jurisdiction, regardless of the nature or severity of the person’s disability. (http://www2. ed. gov/about/offices/list/ocr/docs/edlite-FAPE504. html It seems to be more based on providing them and education without addressing the quality of it.
I too found that to be interesting. In In the case Forest Grove School – v -Teachers Association the law found it important enough to award funds to parents of special need students if their student doesn’t receive a sufficient education at their local public school. Through this lawsuit the 1998 Amendments to the individuals with disabilities Act meant to rein the costs of private school placement…” (www. dweek,org/ew/articles/2009. html). As of yet there are no sure ways to avoid debates raised between legislators and educators. Most local and state school boards are made up of white males over the age of fifty and generally have very limited backgrounds in education administration. This will I am sure continue to be an issue throughout my life time. Being that it is a hot opic there should be lots of lobbyist tackling this issue in DC. President Obama and Ernie Duncan our current Secretary of Education have made a pledge to see that education gets the resources and new avenues of teacher training. Having teachers accountable for student achievement combined with their experience and training I believe is a great way to bridge this gap between politics and education.
