IDEA 2007-2008

All children, including children with disabilities, deserve access to the highest quality education. Since 1975, federal special education law, now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA), has required these educational opportunities for children with disabilities. This legislation was designed to ensure that children with disabilities receive the necessary supports and services to obtain an appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. In order to provide children with disabilities access to the general curriculum, educators, other school personnel, and families need to explore further what is taught, how it is taught, and to define measures for assessing student learning.

In past years, SERC has published both an IDEA Booklet and an LRE/Inclusion Booklet. This year, we have combined the two professional development booklets as both have the same purpose—to offer professional development opportunities to assist special education teachers and administrators, general education teachers and administrators, student support services professionals, Birth to Three providers, and families to provide all children with optimum opportunities for learning in the most appropriate environment. Here, you will find the same high quality professional development activities that you were accustomed to seeing in the LRE/Inclusion Booklet.