Can a principal require special education students to sit at a separate table in the cafeteria, away from nondisabled peers?
I would like any citations from 504 or IDEA to back up the answer.
The situation is that students in my middle school must sit with their class at lunch. If that class happens to be a self-contained special education class, than ADHD students effectively spend 20 extra minutes in a special education setting. My principal has said that they are not segregated, because nondisabled students are in the same room.
I feel that it is important for my self-contained students to have every opportunity to interact with nondisabled peers. Lunch affords the chance to learn conversational social skills that are not available in a PE, arts, or music class.
Consider posting your excellent question on the Parenting an LD Child Board and Parenting an ADHD Child Board. Parents of ld children tend to be very informed as to their child’s rights in such matters as parents often must be the child’s advocate in the school setting.
I think the point you raise is an excellent one and that your principal’s decision is a poor one. Are any of your children prone to unsafe impulsive behaviors? If not, they certainly deserve to sit with others in the cafeteria.