Vermont Parent Information Center - Helping Children with Special Needs and their Families in Vermont

Vermont Special Education Regulations Survey Results

Comments made by Parents to a Survey Regarding the Proposed Special Education Regulations,
Submitted April 4, 2006

SECTION 1: DEFINITIONS

→ Scientifically-Based Research; Peer Reviewed Research

The new IDEA requires the use of teaching methods that are scientifically-based, research-based and/or peer-reviewed research when teaching children with disabilities, wherever practicable.

Should the Vermont Department of Education maintain a list of instructional methods that meet these requirements?

Yes:

No:

Don't Know:

Comments:

...as long as there is fine print saying the list is constantly evolving to include the latest methods approved by research. Parents could go to such a list to see whether the program their child is using is research based.

I think for some of our new teachers under provisional licenses it would be helpful, as well as regular Ed. teachers.

It gives guidelines to new teachers or teachers that have done it for so long that they may not know about new research, teaching methods.

Teaching strategies and methods should be agreed upon by the team (parents/guardians, teachers, specialists) and perhaps a list of these "methods" should be published BUT teachers should not be confined to a certain "method" to help the individual student.

The Dept. should always be a resource, a place where teams can go to learn of instructional methods that have worked with other children.

Again, I question the validity of this whole idea as a REQUIREMENT, but certainly, I'm sure there is a treasure trove of well researched teaching methods, and knowledge of these should be required of all special educators. They should also be required to keep up to date on new research findings, as well as be encouraged to put their innovations up for empirical review.

In addition, the Vermont Department of education should provide said lists to every parent of a child with special needs so the parents have a menu of choices.

Yes, because the parent should have awareness of what is available. Remember, if the parent is new to the disability then they need some type of reference/education so they can advocate on their child's behalf. Without one, the Department holds the only key to an outcome. Decisions should be made when ALL parties have the same information.

However, the phrase says "when practicable" which I take to mean that there are times when research -based, etc. are not necessary to use. This should be clarified as well.

Yes, but the methods shouldn't be limited to those on the list. Teachers should have the freedom to use methods that aren't listed.

Teachers have enough to every day. They often do not have the time to review research. I believe the guidance would be welcome. It will also give support to teachers when a school administration is misinformed about what works.

I assume this list is quite fluid, but it would give the teacher a place to start looking

Yes, but allow the use of other instructional methods that the teacher may feel is valuable.

Absolutely! Again, if IN FACT they are true. Given the fact that our FEDERAL GOVERNMENT (President Bush, etc) has censored Climate Information from the PEOPLE OF THIS COUNTRY, I can only worry that the information provided may not be correct or TRUE for that matter.

Verbiage should be in place that can give proof that these INSTUCTIONAL METHODS in fact work.

Yes, but don't trust the folks at DOE to do this appropriately.

By limiting these to a list, one may eliminate something.

See comments above. If the state doesn’t provide a list of the "instructional methods" it deems as meeting those requirements, then agreeing to the question above serves no purpose. The decision needs to be communicated, and promoted, so that parents understand that. Why not put it in the 'Education Rights Parent packet" that I end up throwing in the trash at every IEP meeting. Putting this detail, would at least provide parents with some actual information I could use.

Yes, with the qualifier that a committee be formed that includes educators and parents with continually reviews the techniques.

The definitions should be clear and concise. It should include information on where people could go for further information.

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