Professional, Legal,
& Ethical Practices
IDEA Leadership Essential
Make ethically and legally sound decisions toward increased access and belonging for children with disabilities.
IDEA Leader Mindset
Leaders must commit to supporting their staff to implement services for children with disabilities in their least restrictive or natural environments as mandated by IDEA, while remaining self-aware, reflective, and continuously seeking professional development to stay current on laws and best practices.
Indicators of Success
- Remain current. Seek professional development opportunities and learning communities (peer-to-peer learning, professional learning communities, networking, conferences, etc.) to remain current on laws, policies, and best practices.
- Understand requirements. Understand the legal and administrative requirements of IDEA, and create the infrastructure for effective IDEA implementation.
- Shift to systems. Move beyond compliance with federal and state laws, policies, and procedures that govern special education by developing accountability systems for staff, educators, service providers, and leaders that promote progress for children with disabilities.
- Uphold rights and responsibilities. Advocate for children with disabilities and their families by ensuring rights are protected and responsibilities upheld when designing appropriate education systems.
- Revise policy. Coordinate and collaborate with staff and families to develop or revise policies and procedures that lead to meaningful progress and improved outcomes for children with disabilities.
- Build Belonging. Establish and encourage a culture of belonging and proactive problem-solving, modeling fair solutions that ensure meaningful progress for all children with disabilities.
