Application of Accountability to Special Education in Rural Areas.

Overview & Synopsis

Examined are the development of the concept of accountability in American education and the application of accountability to the field of special education, with particular reference to special education in rural areas. Accountability is defined as meaning that the schools will be held accountable for producing results. Elements of a program of accountability are enumerated, and the practice of performance contracting is related to accountability. Cited are recent legal decisions concerning the rights of children and their parents, particulary handicapped children. Implications of the legal decisions for general education, special education, and rural areas are pointed out. Problems associated with special education in sparsely settled areas, such as low incidence and lack of a population base, are considered. The solution to the delivery of services to handicapped children in rural areas is seen to not be as simple as special class versus regular class, or resource room versus special class. However, several suggested alternatives, approaches, and projections based upon the idea of accountability are offered. (KW)