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My professional perspective is working as a special education co-teacher in a high school Integrated Physics & Chemistry class. I earned my All-level Sped Certification in December 2017 and began teaching in January 2018. I will complete my MA in C&I this December with plans to continue teaching in the classroom.

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Exploration Option 1: Top 5 Issues According to a Current Professional

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Exploration Option 1: Top 5 Issues According to a Current Professional

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I spoke with Jasper Elementary Principle Mr. David Dunlap, (Jasper, AR), to gain his perspective on the top legal and ethical issues facing the education world today.

1. Bullying - harassment and jeopardizing of individual characteristics and beliefs remains a problem at all levels of education. Some states, including AR, have passed anti-bullying laws. Individual schools can also have specific anti-bullying discipline steps in place.
2. School Safety/Carrying Laws - the schoolhas an on campus safety officer and there is discussion of training, certifying, and allowing some teachers to carry.
3. Teacher Strikes - Many surrounding states have had teacher strikes in order to gain a raise in pay. While it's nearly a unanimous agreement that teachers are not paid enough, there is still discord on how states can get increased funding.
4. Cell phones/Social Media - there is a fine line between utilizing cell phones/social media for connectivity and compromising academic performance
5. Cultural Awareness - Discrimination remains an issue in today's schools. It is important for educators to be aware of their own cultural values and realize that students have unique values as well.
( D. Dunlap, personal communication, August 24, 2018)

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Exploration Option 2: National Education Agency (NEA) Legal & Ethical Issues

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Exploration Option 2: National Education Agency (NEA) Legal & Ethical Issues

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In my exploration of the NEA website, the issue of closing achievement gaps in public schools was heavily emphasized. Students that suffer from an achievement gap are typically culturally diverse and considered minorities. These students can be inaccurately and disproportionately classified as having a learning disability. The NEA contains resources and guides to assist educators in providing these students with appropriate educational experiences.

The NEA also focused on action needed concerning the IDEA federal law, or Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The NEA features an upcoming legislation proposal that could require mandatory full funding for special education programs within six years (NEA, n.d.). This could provide greater opportunity and efficient services for students and may aid in closing achievement gaps.

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Exploration Option 2: Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) Legal & Ethical Issues

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Exploration Option 2: Association of Texas Professional Educators (ATPE) Legal & Ethical Issues

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A portion of the ATPE website focuses on topics that will be upcoming in the 84th Legislature, including public education funding (ATPE, 2018). ATPE calls for reparation of public school funding, including tax re-configuring, to establish equability among all public schools in the state of Texas.

ATPE also maintains opposition against the use of state standardized testing as a primary means for rating district and campus performance. Several bills have been filed relating the the issue of standardized testing and ratings; ATPE supports those that  do not narrow the curriculum and educational experience (ATPE, 2018).

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Achievement gaps are broad, multi-faceted issues that can affect all levels of learners. As a special education teacher, it is likely I will encounter students that suffer achievement gaps based on legitimate disabilities or preconceived notions that they classify as special needs based on cultural background or socioeconomic deficits.

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Researching Achievement Gaps: Internet Resource

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Researching Achievement Gaps: Internet Resource

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In my search of internet resources on academic achievement gaps, I located the Education Trust website. The Education Trust is an organization that strives to promote equality for low economic students and students of color. They research, compile data, and seek to promote public awareness on gap issues.
https://edtrust.org/

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Association of Texas Professional Educators. (2018). What are the issues at stake? Retrieved from https://www.teachthevote.org/issues
Milner, H. R. (2013). Rethinking achievement gap talk in urban education. Urban Education. p 3-8. doi:10.1177/0042085912470417
National Education Association. (2017). Achievement gaps. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/AchievementGaps.html
National Education Association. (n.d.) NEA sets priorities for IDEA re-authorization. Retrieved from http://www.nea.org/home/18767.htm
The Education Trust. (2018). Who we are. Retrieved from https://edtrust.org/who-we-are/

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Achievement gaps are now being defined from a different viewpoint. Gaps are viewed not as stemming from students being from a minority background, having a disability, or being an English as a second language learner, but rather originating from not having appropriate educational sources to provide an appropriate educational experience. According to Milner (2013), the traditional gaps actually come from "the teacher quality gap, the teacher training gap, the challenging curriculum gap, the school funding gap, etc" (p. 4).  Therefore, current literature is pointing towards a need for focus on school and educator qualities to close gaps instead of traditional emphasis on student characteristics.

The Education Trust is making efforts to work alongside politicians, policy makers, administrators, teachers, parents and students to implement transformations in education. Their mission is one that could benefit all educational institutions in identifying true gaps and working to close them.

As a teacher, being aware of achievement gaps and the parties that typically suffer is a fundamental standard. However, being a teacher that recognizes change starts with educators, and seeking out methods to counter the curriculum and quality gaps, is what will make a true difference for students.

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Researching Achievement Gaps: Academic Library Resource

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Researching Achievement Gaps: Academic Library Resource

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Using the online search tool through Angelo State Library, I located a Sage Pub article titled "Rethinking Achievement Gap Talk in Urban Education." This article urges educators to reexamine traditionally labelled  academic achievement gaps to get to the true sources of the problem.
http://journals.sagepub.com.easydb.angelo.edu/doi/pdf/10.1177/0042085912470417