Closing
Heartland AEA 11 is in the process of evolving and integrating its 4-tiered special education delivery system into a 3-tiered, integrated school wide system. The foundations for moving this change forward were established throughout Heartland in the early 1990s and continue to serve our students well. Our system is results-focused, does not rely on unproven assumptions about students or education and relies on the scientific method and science-based practice as the basis for serving students. Moving from the 4 to the 3-tiered model reflects the next phase in Heartland's development. Indeed, the 3-tiered, school-wide model allows the already-established foundations to benefit the system in ways previously unavailable. Some of the fundamental challenges of a "reactive" special-education system will be remedied within the new system. Indeed, in this new system, general-education instructional problems will be addressed proactively at a systems level, prior to engaging special education resources.
The future of special education service delivery lies in the success of an alternate model. The promise of the historical system has led to the reality of a procedural system that ensures rights and access. These critical foundations must not be compromised. It is time, however, to move toward results. With the powerful new insights and technologies available to us, there is little reason to content ourselves with past successes. Fundamental movement toward an integrated, multi-tiered model is the right thing to do ethically, legally and professionally. The vision of the Education of the Handicapped Act was not just that services would be provided, but that services would be effective. Our children deserve no less.
Previous Page | Next Page
Identification Rates | References
