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Special Education (SPED) Committee

The goal of the Special Education Committee is to help parents and PTAs best assist students with barriers, or students who could benefit from special considerations and attention in an educational setting. The types of barriers include physical and mental disabilities who are differently-abled, sensory sensitivities, economic hardships, homeless, non-English speakers, absent parents, in foster care, and more. The goal is to provide additional and thoughtful support that best supports all students. Making changes and small adjustments allows more people to join the group. When families are engaged at school, their students have lower discipline problems, higher attendance, higher grades, and higher graduation rates.

  • Adding accessibility does not take anything away from able-bodied students.

  • 14% of all US students have a disability.

  • 6% of public school students are enrolled in gifted and talented programs.

  • 6% of US students receiving special education services and are also academically gifted.

  • These numbers represent families who crave connections to schools, communities, and family engagement.

  • They want to be a part of the conversation and to help create a more inclusive world.

View Family Special Education on the Louisiana Department of Education website.

The LAPTA Special Education Committee Chair is Tara Kennedy who can be emailed at SPED@LouisianaPTA.org. Please share any resources and tips that can benefit the children across Louisiana or contact her for additional support.

An Overview of Special Education and Section 504 

IEPs and 504s are often used interchangeably to refer to students needing extra support. While the way they support students may seem similar, they stem from different federal laws.

  1. IEP: The law that established Special Education is known as "IDEA" (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act). IDEA ensures that every child has the right to an appropriate education and defines special education as “specially designed instruction … to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability.” This is implemented through an Individualized Education Program (IEP), which includes tailored instructional strategies. The IEP outlines specific, measurable annual goals in relevant areas to help the child participate in and advance within the general education curriculum. It also details how the child's progress towards these goals will be assessed.

  2. Section 504: ​Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 is a federal civil rights law designed to protect students from disability discrimination. It is a precursor to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990. To qualify for a 504 plan, two criteria must be met: the child must have a disability or a suspected disability, and this disability must significantly limit at least one major life activity, such as learning, reading, communicating, or thinking. Unlike an Individualized Education Program (IEP), a 504 plan does not require a full evaluation.

Common Special Education Acronyms

ABA: Applied Behavior Analysis

ABC (data): Antecedent, Behavior, Consequence

ADA: Americans with Disabilities Act

ADHD: Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

ASD: Autism Spectrum Disorder

AT: Assistive Technology

BCBA: Board Certified Behavior Analyst

BIP: Behavior Intervention Plan

D/B: Deaf and Blind

D/HH: Deaf and Hard of Hearing

EBD: Emotional Behavior Disorder

ECSE: Early Childhood Special Education

EIP: Early Intervention Program

EL: English Learner

ESL: English as a Second Language

ESY: Extended School Year

FA: Functional Analysis

FAPE: Free and Appropriate Public Education

FBA: Functional Behavior Assessment

GAA: Georgia Alternative Assessment

H/V: Hearing and Vision (Screening)

IDEA: Individuals with Disabilities Education Act

IEE: Independent Educational Evaluation

IEP: Individualized Education Program

IRR: Interrelated Resource

LEA: Local Education Agency

LRE: Least Restrictive Environment

MiID: Mild Intellectual Disability

MoID: Moderate Intellectual Disability

ODD: Oppositional Defiant Disorder

OHI: Other Health Impairment

OI: Orthopedic Impairment

OT: Occupational Therapy or Therapist

PA: Preparatory Activity

PECS: Picture Exchange Communication System

PLAAFP: Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance

PT: Physical Therapy or Therapist

PWN: Prior Written Notice

RTI: Response to Intervention

SDD: Significant Developmental Delay

SI or SLI: Speech Language Impairment

SID/PID: Severe/Profound Intellectual Disability

SLD: Specific Learning Disabilities 

SLP: Speech-Language Pathologist

SPED: Special Education

SST: Student Support Team

SWD: Students With a Disability

SWE: Students With Exceptionalities

TBI: Traumatic Brain Injury

VI: Visual Impairment

All About Me!

Use this "All About Me!" PDF for students. They can fill it out to share with others all about themselves!

Elementary Students
Junior High and High School  Students
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