Despite the prevalence of students with disabilities in the general education classroom, few teachers receive training on how to meet these students' needs or how to navigate the legally mandated processes enumerated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). What is their role? What are their responsibilities? What are the roles and rights of parents? And what must all teachers do to ensure that students with disabilities and other special needs receive the quality education they're entitled to?

In this practical reference, David F. Bateman--bestselling author of "A Principal's Guide to Special Education"--and special education administrator Jenifer L. Cline clarify what general education teachers need to know about special education law and processes and provide a guide to instructional best practices for the inclusive classroom. Topics covered include The pre-referral, referral, and evaluation processes Individualized education programs (IEPs) and the parties involved Accommodations for students who do not quality for special education, including those covered by Section 504 Transition from preK to K-12 and from high school to postschool life Classroom management and student behavior Educational frameworks, instructional strategies, and service delivery options Assessment, grades, graduation, and diplomas

The breadth of coverage in this book, along with its practical examples, action steps, and appendixes covering key terms and definitions will provide the foundation all K-12 teachers need to successfully instruct and support students receiving special education services. It's an indispensable resource for every general education classroom.

David F. Bateman is a professor in the Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania, where he teaches courses about learning disabilities, special education, and special education law to future teachers and administrators. Dr. Bateman has been a classroom teacher of students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, intellectual disabilities, and hearing impairments. The former due process hearing officer for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and past president of the Pennsylvania Council for Exceptional Children, he is public policy chair of the Division for Learning Disabilities and is active in the Consortium for Citizens with Disabilities in Washington, DC. He is coauthor of The Principal's Guide to Special Education and The Special Education Program Administrator's Handbook.

Jenifer L. Cline is a special education administrator in Great Falls Public Schools in Great Falls, Montana. Ms. Cline has practiced speech pathology in a variety of schools and has worked as a special education administrator for the last 10 years as both the special education director of a special education cooperative and as a district-level special education administrator. An active member of the Council of Administrators of Special Education (CASE), she has served on its professional development committee and as the president of Montana CASE. She is coauthor of Efficient and Effective Management of Resources and Data: Making It Meaningful.