The special education association of Peoria County, in cooperation with Elmwood High School, offers special education classes to any student qualified. A more individualized approach to learning is utilized.

SPECIAL EDUCATION INCLUSION

Illinois and many other states, have directed the schools to include with special education students. The general definition of inclusion is placing students with special needs in the regular division classrooms, where instruction is given by teachers who are experts in the fields they teach. The students still receive support from the special education department in many forms. They may need help reviewing for tests, skills re-taught on a one-on-one basis, or simply encouragement to hand in work. There are almost as many ways to help and support the students, as there are students. The state has also left many of the decisions about what inclusion is to the individual school districts.

At EHS all inclusion students are placed on the regular division teachers class list at the beginning of the year. This is done for two reasons. First, this is the way that the computer knows to save a place in that class for the special education student. Second, this lets the student and teachers evaluate how much help the student needs in class.

As the semester progresses the decision is be made to either leave the student on the regular division class list, or change the student to the special education teachers class list. This decision is made with input from all teachers involved, the student, and the parents. Even when a student remains on the regular division class list, there is help available from the special education teachers.