IDEA '97 and Educator Standards: Special Educators' Perceptions of Their Skil[Is and Those of General Educators

Abstract

The authors provide results of a study analyzing special educator's beliefs regarding special and general educators' skills in implementing legal mandates described in Public Law 105-17, the individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA '97). The authors compare how preservice and practicing special educators approach legal mandates, and what special educators perceive to be the influence of their preservice preparation andlor continuing professional development opportunities on satisfying legal requirements. The groups shared similar, negative perceptions regarding their general education counterparts' skills to adapt general education curricula and to accommodate student needs for statewide assessments. The groups differed in their responses to a number of items regarding student suspensions and the appropriateness of general education preparation programs to meet the needs of students with disabilities. There appears to be a continued division between general and special educators. Preservice and inservice programs should be designed to integrate general and special educators in order to unify the service delivery systems.