I would like the Public Schools of Brookline to require all teachers to undergo annual online special education training and pass tests in the modules. Also, each school and all GenEd and SPED classrooms should have a poster in each classroom about your rights under the IDEA.

There are 7.5 million students with IEPs or 504s taught in public schools in the United States, roughly 15% of the total student population. Just in Brookline, 18% of students have IEPs or 504 plans. This totals around 1,316 people, which is a very large number. 61% of IEPs have modifications put in place by general education teachers.

I value fairness and rule following. Everyone should have a fair education, at least, because in life things will be more difficult but in school it should be easier to learn because if you can’t learn you can’t succeed in life. 

People with IEPs will benefit from teacher training by having a much smoother educational experience. It will reduce their stress by allowing them to access the curriculum without having to constantly contact teachers or advocates about accommodation not being met. It will benefit teachers by reducing their legal liability and making them more educated  on special education in general and provide them with a more advanced teaching expertise in regard to people with different abilities.