Evolution in Schools

Case Study: Student with Special Needs

Michael Foudy

Grand Canyon University

Legal Issues in Education

EDA 555

Dr. Joseph Veres

November 21, 2013

Case Study: Student with Special Needs

Jackson is a thirteen-year-old seventh grader at a Catholic elementary school. His father is a bankruptcy attorney and his mother is a family physician. Jackson is the middle child of the family. Jackson’s older brother is a sixteen-year-old junior at a Catholic high school and Jackson’s younger sister is a ten-year-old fifth grader. Jackson and his sister attend the same grade school. The older brother and sister are both high achieving students with high standardized test scores. The family is well traveled and Jackson’s parents are dedicated to serving the school and church community. Jackson is a member of a club baseball team and takes guitar lessons twice a week.

Jackson has a number of strengths. He is a very articulate young man and speaks confidently and appropriately to adults about his experiences outside of school. Jackson is an active participant in his science and social studies classes and often makes valuable contributions to group discussions. His skills in math and reading are grade appropriate. Jackson demonstrates basic politeness: he often says please and thank you, and properly apologizes when corrected. Jackson is also is a strong test taker.

During the first quarter of 7th Grade, Jackson’s Language Arts teacher, Mrs. McCullough, documented the following areas of concern: Jackson struggles with class preparation and he often forgets books, paper, and writing utensils. Jackson is missing several assignments and the written work that Jackson turns in is difficult to read due to frequent errors. Jackson talks constantly in class and often interrupts his peers and teacher. Jackson distracts other students in class by blurting out answers, tapping his feet, tapping his pencil or pen, and leaving his seat to wander the classroom.

Mrs....