The Washington State Special Education Coalition (WSSEC) believes that P.L.101-476 (IDEA) is clear and instructive regarding the placement and educational opportunities for special education students. It guarantees a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment (LRE). It clearly states that special classes, separate schooling or other removal of special education students from the regular education environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.
Over the years for many and various reasons, special education students have routinely had to start outside of regular education and somehow prove membership or otherwise earn their way back into the regular environment. They are indeed guaranteed individualized services and specially designed instruction, but in an effort to deliver those services, too often, segregated services have been used. This has inadvertently led to the isolation of these students and restricted the range of their educational and community possibilities. Individual, specially designed instruction remains essential but in no way necessitates isolation.
The WSSEC believes it is time to recognize the value of a well supported diverse learning environment and to build that environment systematically and thoroughly for the benefit of ALL students. In this time of restructuring and change involving all aspects of education it is essential that decisions shaping the future are made with ALL students in mind.