Special education department

PHILOSOPHY OF THE SPECIAL EDUCATION DEPARTMENT 

Every individual has a unique combination of intellectual potential, physical attributes and constraints, behavioral and emotional patterns, and a preferred learning style. Education has evolved as an institution to help growing persons make the most of this uniqueness. Most students' needs can be met with choices under the heading of "regular education." If differing too much from the majority of learners in one or more aspects, a student may then come under the aegis of "special education" services. Regular and special education should not be viewed as discrete, separate entities, however, but should be seen as an educational continuum. Appropriate options should be available along this continuum so that each student at each developmental level of growth may have an appropriate education provided in the least restrictive setting. These options should include: regular classroom setting with monitoring, consulting, training, and supportive personnel (including aides where appropriate) available; team teaching with regular and special needs educators sharing teaching responsibilities in one setting; resource rooms for remediation and specialized teaching; and substantially separate programs.