Beginning Special Educators' Forays into General Education

Abstract

The purpose of the current study was to examine beginning special educators' experiences in their attempts to implement two key requirements associated with reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1997: access to the general education curriculum and participation in general education programs. We conducted in-depth interviews with 36 beginning special educators. Eighty-one percent of the teachers reported facing significant barriers in implementing the two IDEA 1997 requirements. Specific barriers are reported with implications for changes in teacher preparation and organizational structures in schools to support teachers in meeting the requirements of federal legislation supporting individual with disabilities.