History
Inclusion is an educational approach that provides all students with proper preparation for academic achievement. It is an effort for diverse learners, for example those with disabilities or who speak a language other than English to all have an equal education. Inclusion enhances learning for all students, and teaching styles are specialized for those who learn differently to still get a proper education.
In 1975, Public Law 94-142 (Education of All Handicapped Children Act or EHA) guaranteed a free and appropriate education for children with disabilities in public schools.
In 1997, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was signed. The act says/allows:
Then in 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act was signed. This act said that children with disabilities were to be moved out of mainstream classrooms and into classrooms with other children like them. The reasoning behind moving them out of the mainstream classrooms was so that appropriate accommodations, strategies and teaching styles could be used to most benefit these children.
In 2004, there was the re authorization of IDEA. This stated:
In 1975, Public Law 94-142 (Education of All Handicapped Children Act or EHA) guaranteed a free and appropriate education for children with disabilities in public schools.
In 1997, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was signed. The act says/allows:
- the least restrictive environment must be provided for each child
- supports involving students with special needs in education curricula, assessment, and classrooms
- traditional strategies to teach special needs children were not as beneficial
- encourages general and special education teachers to work together
- “inclusion is a philosophy of acceptance and flexibility”
Then in 2002, the No Child Left Behind Act was signed. This act said that children with disabilities were to be moved out of mainstream classrooms and into classrooms with other children like them. The reasoning behind moving them out of the mainstream classrooms was so that appropriate accommodations, strategies and teaching styles could be used to most benefit these children.
In 2004, there was the re authorization of IDEA. This stated:
- students should be in mainstream classrooms for most of day, not separate
- least restrictive environment= must be educated with students who do not have disabilities
- Can only be separated if disability is so bad that regular services are not beneficial to the child
- Definition of Disabilities now include intellectual disability, a hearing impairment/deafness, a speech or language impairment, visual impairment/blindness, serious emotional disturbance, orthopedic impairment, autism, other health impairment, traumatic brain injury, specific learning disability, deaf-blindness, or multiple disabilities
More than 6.8 million children with disabilities receive special needs education in US public schools