Including Children with Disabilities in state Pre-K programs

[Guest guest]

From another list

The Education Law Center recently released the following policy brief, with

support from the Pew Charitable Trusts:

Including Children with Disabilities in State Pre-K Programs (February 2010)

http://www.edlawcenter.org/ELCPublic/Publications/PDF/PreKPolicyBrief_InclusionC\

hildrenWithDisabilities.pdf

Provides an overview of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)

and recommends policies to help ensure that preschool-aged children with

disabilities receive an appropriate public education in the least restrictive

environment.

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As an FYI, the " Conclusion " section of the document (pages 12-13) states:

" Currently, states are not meeting their obligation under IDEA to educate pre-k

children with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. State-funded

early education programs present a unique opportunity for states to increase the

number of children with disabilities served, but to attain that goal, states

must adopt policies that actively promote and encourage inclusion, such as those

presented in this brief. A vast body of research has demonstrated that high

quality pre-k programs are very effective at improving the school readiness of

three- and four-year-old children, particularly those at risk of school failure

due to poverty or other disadvantages. Children with disabilities should have an

equal opportunity to benefit from these programs. "