The Incompetence of School Leaders in the U.S. Special Education

Abstract

School leaders in the U.S. have difficulties providing students with disabilities with a quality education that complies with the needs of the children. Leaders' knowledge about including students with disabilities into general education settings consists of nothing but the legal requirements of the process. Leadership preparation programs' main concern is keeping leaders away from legal sanctions of incompliance with laws that govern special education. The aim of the study is to understand the reasons of this situation which often results in various problems and to propose recommendations to leaders in overcoming their incompetency. Through a literature review, problems are scrutinized, and the roles that leaders should embrace are defined.

Keywords

• special education, leadership, students with disabilities.

Okul Liderlerinin Birleşik Devletler Özel Eğitimindeki Yetersizliği

Öz

Birleşik Devletler ’deki okul liderleri, yetersizliği olan öğrencilere onların ihtiyaçlarıyla uyumlu ve nitelikli bir eğitim sağlama hususunda güçlük çekmektedirler. Liderlerin, yetersizliği olan öğrencilerin genel eğitim ortamlarına dahili hakkındaki bilgileri sürecin yasal gereklerinden ibarettir. Liderliğe hazırlık programlarının asıl kaygısı, liderleri özel eğitimle alakalı yasalara uymamaktan doğan yasal yaptırımlardan uzak tutmaktır. Çalışmanın amacı, sıkça çeşitli olumsuzluklarla sonuçlanan bu durumun nedenlerini anlamak ve liderlere yetersizlikleriyle başa çıkabilmeleri için öneriler sunmaktır. Alan yazın incelemesi ile sorunlar irdelenir ve liderlerin benimsemesi gereken roller belirtilir.

Anahtar Kelimeler

• özel eğitim, liderlik, yetersizliği olan öğrenciler.

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