Several laws like the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) have been passed for special education students so that they will be able to receive a good education just like any other student. The law sets standards for a students achievement and provides special helps and services in schools for a student's individual needs. It requires schools to make available to all children with disabilities a free public education in an environment that satisfies their individual needs. But how are these laws being put in action when the state of Illinois wants to increase class size for special education students? When a classroom is filled with 30 students, it’s harder for a teacher to specialize on one student and their individual needs being that that one teacher also has to care for 29 other students and their individual needs. “‘It’s called special education because they need something special…unique and individualized – hence the individualized education plans that they all have,” Antas said. “Taking away the cap is defeating the purpose of special education, because you can’t individualize things in a class that’s full of 25 students.’” says Colleen Antas, a spanish teacher at Schurz High School. The only solution to this would be to keep class sizes as they are or to minimize them or else special education students would never receive the equity they deserve.
-Weinstein, Emily. "Board Vote Could Eliminate Cap for Illinois Special Education Class Sizes." Board Vote Could Eliminate Cap for Illinois Special Education Class Sizes. N.p., 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 03 Mar. 2014.
-"A Guide to Disability Rights Laws." A Guide to Disability Rights Laws. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2014.
-Weinstein, Emily. "Board Vote Could Eliminate Cap for Illinois Special Education Class Sizes." Board Vote Could Eliminate Cap for Illinois Special Education Class Sizes. N.p., 16 Jan. 2014. Web. 03 Mar. 2014.
-"A Guide to Disability Rights Laws." A Guide to Disability Rights Laws. N.p., n.d. Web. 03 Mar. 2014.