This document discusses the rights of learners with special needs and the responsibilities of teachers in special education. It covers laws like the Child Find Mandate that require identifying students who need special services. Teachers must be knowledgeable in their subjects, well-organized, and able to manage classrooms. They are expected to respect all students, promote participation, and communicate with families. Advocating for students and helping them achieve their full potential requires getting to know them, setting educational and behavioral goals, and working as a team with other professionals.

1. Learner’s Rights and
Teacher Responsibilities
Alexandria Nanny

2. Introduction
Special education is a vast scope of ever evolving
changes and accommodations needed by students who
may be classified as exceptional. Exceptional students
are those students who may face additional challenges,
not just in their education, but in throughout their lives.
Whether it be behavioral management, disabilities,
developmental delays, or gifted students, just to name a
few, it is up to us in the field of education to provide the
best education for these students and give them the tools
they need to be successful throughout life. So our
question is, how exactly do we do that?
(Gargiulo & Bouck, 2016)

3. The Value of Special Education
in the Classroom
Although everyone has different life experiences
and interactions, a student with a special
education is going to bring an even more unique
perspective to the learning environment. Family
values are going to be unique to the family and be
a representation of their culture and beliefs. That
may not change depending on the student’s
exceptionality. However, their life experiences both
in school and in their daily life including their social
interactions may be different in various ways. All of
these unique experiences help promote
understanding and provide the opportunity for
growth within the classroom through diversity.
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-SA-NC
This Photo by Unknown Author is licensed under CC BY-ND

4. Laws and Policies (Child Find Mandate)
State: Virginia
• 8VAC20-81-50. Child find - any child from birth to age 21 in need of special education be
found and provided proper education for
• 8VAC20-81-60. Referral for initial evaluation – procedure and process of an initial
evaluation
(Title 8, 2009)
Federal:
• Section 1414. Evaluations, eligibility determinations, individualized education programs,
and educational placements – Details how students are initially found to need special
education and the process through which they are placed in the correct program.
• Section 1418. Program information – Details how the states are provided with help to
maintain the special education programs and the data collection process to ensure
students are receiving the education they need.
(Section 1418, 2019)

5. Professional Expectations
• Knowledgable and a continuous learner in their
content area
• Strong organization skills and preparation
capabilities
• Leadership/management skills to aid in
classroom management

6. Code of Ethics
Commit to the student; Commit to the profession (Nea., 2020)
As simple and straight forward as that! When a teacher is committed to being the best they can for their
students, they also commit to everything the profession entails and then some. You can’t commit to one
without the other.

7. Professional Standards of
Practice
• Always be inclusive
• Promote participation
• Have an open line of communication with families
• Data collection and “evidence based research”
• Professional growth through development opportunities
(Ethical principles and practice standards., n.d)

8. Advocacy for the Needs of all Students
• Get to know your students
• Work with students on educational goals as well as any behavioral goals as
needed
• Speak with other professionals when help or advise is needed to provide
better support for students

9. Helping Students Achieve Their Full Potential
Participation
Inclusion
Inclusion
Content
variety
Work as a team
with colleagues,
students, and
student families

10. Promoting Respect in the
Classroom
Respect is one of the most valuable components to
any successful learning environment. This includes
developing respectful relationships with everyone
working for any given student (families, SPED
teachers, case managers, etc.) This could be
achieved through various avenues;
• Open communication
• Learn to work with and from one another’s learning
differences
• Keeping an open mind

11. References
Ethical principles and practice standards. Council for Exceptional Children. (n.d.). Retrieved June 20,
2022, from https://exceptionalchildren.org/standards/ethical-principles-and-practice-standards
Gargiulo, R. M., & Bouck, E. C. (2016). Special education in contemporary society: An introduction to
exceptionality (6th ed.). SAGE Publications.
Nea. (2020, November 14). Code of ethics for educators. NEA. Retrieved June 20, 2022, from
https://www.nea.org/resource-library/code-ethics-educators
Section 1418. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. (2019, November 7). Retrieved June 20,
2022, from https://sites.ed.gov/idea/statute-chapter-33/subchapter-ii/1418
Title 8. education. 8VAC20-81-50. Child find. (2009, July 7). Retrieved June 20, 2022, from
https://law.lis.virginia.gov/admincode/title8/agency20/chapter81/section50/