To increase participant’s knowledge of foundations of exceptional student education as outlined in the following Exceptional Student Educator Competencies revised in 2009:

  1. Identify state and federal legislation and case law that have affected the education of students with disabilities.
  2. Identify appropriate practices based on legal and ethical standards (e.g., due process, procedural safeguards, confidentiality, access to general education, least restrictive environment, transition planning, free appropriate public education).
  3. Demonstrate knowledge of the required policies and processes for developing individual education plans (IEPs), individualized family service plans (IFSPs), and transition IEPs.
  4. Identify the classification systems and eligibility criteria under the current Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act.
  5. Compare the development and characteristics (e.g., language, cognitive-academic, social-emotional, sensory, physical-motor) of children with disabilities to the development and characteristics of children without disabilities.
  6. Interpret curriculum information and assessment data for IEP and child study team members.
  7. Identify models of support for assisting students with disabilities in accessing the general education curricula.
  8. Identify the purposes and functions of professional and advocacy organizations relevant to educating students with disabilities.