Public Policy, School Reform, and Special Education

Book excerpt: An informative look at the factors that influence special education policies and practices! Education in the United States is driven by excellence and equity for all students. There is a tenuous balance, however, between society′s desire to provide special education services and its ability to pay for them. Authors Jim Ysseldyke and Bob Algozzine examine the current educational landscape, focusing on the delivery of cost-effective, quality services to exceptional students. Public Policy, School Reform, and Special Education demonstrates how and why special education services are driven more by social, political, and economic factors than by actual changes in education, and the ways in which society′s values and beliefs affect the distribution of limited resources. Special features include: Key vocabulary terms Case studies illustrating how social, political and economic factors work together to affect special education practices A pretest and posttest to help readers assess their understanding of school reform and restructuring Helpful books, articles, and organizations for further research and support