The Essentials of Special Education Law, Second Edition

The Essentials of Special Education Law,2nd Edition is a must-have book for those who feel overwhelmed by the jargon and nuances of special education legislation, regulation, and case law. This book should serve as your go-to-guide to the historical underpinnings of special education, the six gears of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), essential court cases that have propelled the field of special education to where it is today, and practical application tips to ensure legal compliance.

Andrew M. Markelz Ph.D. is an associate professor in the department of educational foundations and exceptionalities at James Madison University. He is founding editor of the Journal of Special Education Preparation and has co-authored several books pertaining to special education law, advocacy, and research. Dr. Markelz has also served as a court appointed special advocate (CASA) for many years. Through research and practice, he is committed to expediting the novice-to-expert teaching curve by preparing special educators to implement proactive classroom management strategies and develop meaningful and legally defensible individualized education programs.
David F. Bateman, Ph.D., is a Principal Researcher at the American Institutes for Research, and is finishing up this academic year as a professor at Shippensburg University in the Department of Educational Leadership and Special Education where he teaches courses on special education law, assessment, and facilitating inclusion. He is a former due process hearing officer for Pennsylvania for hundreds of hearings. He uses his knowledge of litigation relating to special education to assist school districts in providing appropriate supports for students with disabilities and to prevent and to recover from due process hearings. He has been a classroom teacher of students with learning disabilities, behavior disorders, intellectual disability, and hearing impairments.