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Special Education is governed by the Individuals with Disabilities Act, IDEA, set forth by the federal government.  The act stipulates how state and public agencies, such as the school system, address and identify the special needs of children with disabilities.  The overall educational purpose of IDEA is to ensure that all students are afforded a quality education in the least restrictive environment.  Special Ed law dictates that qualified children are provided an Indvidiualized Education Plan, IEP, to address the needs of the individual child (An overview, 2018).

Not only does IDEA address educational learning disabilities but includes students with mental health disabilities.  Providing mental health services for identified students falls under the Free Appropriate Public Education, FAPE, portion of IDEA (Yell, Smith, Katsiyannis, & Losinski, 2018).  As an administrator, there are legal and ethical issues that must be adherred to in providing educational services to all students.  The identification and evaluation of students with disabilities is required by law and must be carried out by the school district.  Parents of special education students have a legal right to be a major player and in agreement with all decisions regarding their child’s education (An overview, 2018).  Educators must be up-to-date in special education legal mandates in order to establish educational practices that are legal and ethical in adressing student needs.

An overview of special ed law, (2018). Retrieved from https://education.findlaw.com/special-education-and-disabilities/an-overview-of-special-ed-law.html

Yell, M., Smith, C., Katsiyannis, A., & Losinski, M. (2018). Mental health services, free appropriate public education, and students with disabilities: Legal considerations in identifying, evaluating, and providing services. Journal Of Positive Behavior Interventions, 20(2), 67-77. doi:10.1177/1098300717722358 IEP

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The website Education Dive provided an article addressing the ramifications of suspending students with disabilities in causing educational gaps.
https://www.educationdive.com/news/students-with-disabilities-miss-opportunities-to-learn-when-suspended/523156/

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Delving into trending legal topics I came across this article addressing the changes that have occurred since the Supreme Court increased requirements to providing a quality education to special education students.

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/05/02/a-year-ago-the-supreme-court-raised.html

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An internet search provided the following article, from FindLaw, that outlined the legal overview of Special Education under U.S. Code Title 20, Chapter 33.  The article summarized the facets of Special Education requirements and provided links for further exploration.

https://education.findlaw.com/special-education-and-disabilities/an-overview-of-special-ed-law.html

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A research study I found through the ASU Library examined the legal responsibility in identifying special education students.  The article pointed out the need to identify and evaluate students that exhibit mental-health needs based upon criteria outlined in IDEA, Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
http://journals.sagepub.com.easydb.angelo.edu/doi/pdf/10.1177/1098300717722358

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The NSBA, National School Boards Association, included an article addressing the number of undocumented immigrant children that will be entering the American school system. The article outlined the ramifications the influx will cause on the existing system.
http://www.nsba.org/advocacy/school-law/equity-and-discrimination/legal-issues-school-districts-undocumented-children

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School Districts Prepare for the Impact of Immigrant Children

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As I was researching the NASET, National Association of Special Education Teachers website, I found this article outlining the many types of disabilities.  An effective educational administrator must be aware of the many challenges facing students in the special education realm.
https://www.naset.org/exceptionalstudents2.0.html

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Upon completion of my Master's in Educational Administration, my goal is to provide quality leadership to all members of the learning community.