100 Frequently Asked Questions About the Special Education Process

"This book will make a great contribution to special education."
—Colleen Winkler, Gifted & Talented Education Teacher
Riverdale High School, Jefferson, LA

"As a general education teacher, I find that this book provides a concrete explanation of complex terms."
—Kaycee Taylor, Social Studies Teacher
Bainbridge Island High School, WA

Special education "nuts and bolts" questions that you always wanted to know but were afraid to ask.

Attempting to understand the complex state and federal laws, regulations, and policies affecting special education programs can be a daunting task for any educator. In this practical, jargon-free text, Roger Pierangelo and George Giuliani use their combined expertise in special education and the law to explain key concepts and present clear answers to commonly asked questions about disabilities and education.

Ideal for K–12 special education teachers, general education teachers, and education stakeholders, 100 Frequently Asked Questions About Special Education makes an often complex subject understandable to novice teachers and veteran teachers who have not taught students with special needs.

Written in a concise question-and-answer format, this practical guide includes an easily accessible glossary of terms and provides basic information about:

• The prereferral process
• Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)
• Eligibility for special education
• Procedural safeguards, a component of the IDEA Act of 2004
• Annual reviews and evaluations
• Transitions from school to adult life

Appropriate for both educators and parents, this reader-friendly guidebook gives adults a working knowledge of the special education process and enhances their skills for helping students reach their full potential.

Roger Pierangelo is an associate professor in the Department of Special Education and Literacy at Long Island University. He has been an administrator of special education programs and served for eighteen years as a permanent member of Committees on Special Education. He has over thirty years of experience in the public school system as a general education classroom teacher and school psychologist, and is a consultant to numerous private and public schools, PTAs, and SEPTA groups. Pierangelo has also been an evaluator for the New York State Office of Vocational and Rehabilitative Services and a director of a private clinic. He is a New York State licensed clinical psychologist, certified school psychologist, and a Board Certified Diplomate Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychology and Forensic Psychology. Pierangelo is currently president of The National Association of Special Education Teachers, executive director of The American Academy of Special Education Professionals, and vice-president of The National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education. Pierangelo earned his BS degree from St. John′s University, his MS from Queens College, Professional Diploma from Queens College, PhD from Yeshiva University, and Diplomate Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychology and Forensic Psychology from the International College of Professional Psychology. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, New York State Psychological Association, Nassau County Psychological Association, New York State Union of Teachers, and Phi Delta Kappa. Pierangelo is the coauthor of numerous books, including The Big Book of Special Education Resources and The Step-by-Step Book Series for Special Educators. George Giuliani is an assistant professor at Hofstra University′s School of Education and Allied Health and Human Services, in the Department of Counseling, Research, Special Education, and Rehabilitation. He is the executive director of the National Association of Special Education Professionals, president of the National Association of Parents with Children in Special Education (NAPCSE), vice-president of the National Association of Special Education Teachers, and an educational consultant for various school districts. He has provided numerous workshops for parents and teachers on a variety of special education and psychological topics. Giuliani earned Board Certification as a Diplomate Fellow in Child and Adolescent Psychology and Forensic Psychology from the International College of Professional Psychology. Giuliani is also a New York State licensed psychologist, certified school psychologist, and has an extensive private practice focusing on children with special needs. He is a member of the American Psychological Association, New York State Psychological Association, the National Association of School Psychologists, Suffolk County Psychological Association, Psi Chi, American Association of University Professors, and the Council for Exceptional Children. Giuliani earned his BA from the College of the Holy Cross, MS from St. John′s University, JD from City University Law School, and PsyD from Rutgers University, The Graduate School of Applied and Professional Psychology. Giuliani is the coauthor of numerous books, including The Big Book of Special Education Resources and The Step-by-Step Book Series for Special Educators.