The Essentials of Special Education Law (Special Education Law, Policy, and Practice)

Product Description
The Essentials of Special Education Law distills the legal complexities of special education into a practical resource for preparation programs as well as professionals in the field. Written and organized with college students and practicing educators in mind, this book serves as a go-to guide to the historical underpinnings of special education, the six pillars of the Individual with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), essential court cases that have propelled the field of special education to where it is today, and practical application tips to ensure legal compliance. With 45 years of combined special education legal experience, authors Andrew Markelz and David Bateman present the essential components of special education law like never before.
Review
As a brief skim over the deep waters of special education law, this textbook hits its mark.
-- Mitchell L. Yell, Fred and Francis Lester Palmetto Chair in Teacher Education, University of South Carolina
Understanding special education law is critical for practicing educators, but too often, special education law is overlooked in teacher preparation programs. The Essentials of Special Education Law is a timely resource designed to fill this gap, making special education law and policy accessible for educators and other school personnel. From providing a comprehensive overview of the history of special education, to highlighting key vocabulary terms, to thoughtful discussion questions at the end of each chapter, Dr. Markelz and Dr. Bateman have created a resource to demystify special education law. This text is a valuable resource to improve legal literacy among educators.
-- Paula Chan, associate professor of special education, Cleveland State University
The Essentials of Special Education Law is a straightforward textbook for candidates in all licensure areas. A key feature is an easy-to-understand refresher on U.S. Government and foundational knowledge related to special education history—this provides a critical framework for understanding special education law. Markelz and Bateman seamlessly embed court cases and federal law in each chapter as legal exemplars of the IDEA pillars to inform candidates how to develop and deliver legally sound special education programs. Throughout the text, they masterfully identify practical suggestions to engage parents in the special education process. Each chapter concludes with excellent resources that link the theory to practice gap. An essential textbook for all candidates in teacher education preparation programs.
-- Cynthia Dieterich, professor, Baldwin Wallace University
The Essentials of Special Education Law serves as a comprehensive and readable source of leading legal issues in special education. Relatedly, Markelz and Bateman’s book can be effectively adopted in special education law or related courses ranging from undergraduate pre-service teacher preparation programs to specialized graduate-level programs in educational leadership, school counseling, school psychology, and special education. This book will significantly improve the special education legal literacy of those that work closely with students with disabilities.
-- Kevin P. Brady Ph.D, University of Arkansas, professor of educational leadership
About the Author
David F. Bateman is professor at Shippensburg University in the department of educational leadership and special education, where he teaches courses on special education law, assessment, and facilitating inclusion. He has recently coauthored A Principal’s Guide to Special Education, A Teacher’s Guide to Special Education, Charting the Course: Special Education in Charter Schools, Special Education Leadership: Building Effective Programming in Schools, and Current Trends and Legal Issues in Special Education.
Andrew M. Markelz is assistant professor of special education at Ball State University. As the coordinator of Ball State’s Director of Spec