Episode 66 Addressing Inclusion Confusion Following COVID

Let’s Talk - Lozano Smith Podcast

Join Lozano Smith attorneys Joshua Whiteside, Jennifer Baldassari, and Haley Fagan in a discussion about special education inclusion following a return to in-person schooling post-COVID. In this episode they discuss inclusive environments, recent case law, and next steps for the future. Listen as they delve into inclusion and travel through past and present frameworks to better understand this complex topic.

Show Notes & References

• 1:26 – What is inclusion?
• 2:38 – The history of inclusion and why it matters
• 2:54 – Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
• 7:07 – Inclusion levels in classrooms
• 8:40 – What an inclusive environment should look like
• 10:36 – Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)
• 11:38 – Rachel H. (Sacramento City Unified School District v. Rachel H. (9th Cir. 1994) F.3d 1405) and the four-factor test
• 13:08 – D.R. (D.R. v. Redondo Beach Unified School District (9th Cir. 2022) 56 F.4th 636) and grade-level standards (Client News Brief 15 – April 2023)
• 18:40 – Learning recovery and addressing disparities
• 21:45 – Referrals for inclusion programs
• 22:32 – Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curriculum
• 23:15 – Next steps for the future
• 25:14 – Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS)
• 26:48 – Behavior, discipline, and support for students and teachers in the classroom
• 33:38 – Check-in’s and coming back
• 35:26 – Final thoughts

For more information on the topics discussed in this podcast, please visit our website at: www.lozanosmith.com/podcast.