• A group of people committed to problem solving.

• Problem solving is an integral part of teaching and education.

• By working together the gains from the group far outweigh the sum of the group parts (synergy).

  
  

  Friend, (2023), p. 111.

  Ganesh, K. (2023).

  
  

• The strength of working together as a group.

• Synergy means that the group is stronger than the sum of the parts.

• Interlocking hands represent chords of a strand of rope which is stronger interwoven together.

Friend, M. (2017).

-In the last reading this court decision is referenced as an important decision by the 5th Circuit of the United States Court of Appeals.

-This establishes the "Daniel Standard" for courts to evaluate whether a school places a student in the "Least Restrictive Environment."

-"The standard emphasizes the importance of considering placement in the general education classroom and requires an individualized assessment of the student's needs and abilities."

Yell, K., et al. (2020), p. 2.

-The school district must demonstrate good-faith efforts to provide supports and services in the general education setting before considering a more restrictive placement. 

-Group work is very helpful for determining what is the best placement for students.

-The group must be dedicated to determining the best level of placement for a student.

Yell, K., et al. (2020), p. 4.

-It gives tips for group collaboration on a special education student's appropriate placement.

-It addresses the IEP team on ways to discuss placement.

-It can be used as a guide to collaborate on the IEP meetings.

Friend, M., & Cook, L. (2017). Interactions: Collaboration skills for school professionals. Boston, MA:  Pearson. (Chapter 5).

Yell, Katsiyannis, A., Ennis, R. P., Losinski, M., & Bateman, D. (2020). Making Legally Sound Placement DecisionsLinks to an external site.. Teaching Exceptional Children, 52(5), 291–303. https://doi.org/10.1177/0040059920906537