TASK 2.
POLICY ANALYSIS AND COMPARISON ACTIVITY: ANALYZING AND
COMPARING SPECIAL EDUCATION AND INCLUSIVE EDUCATION POLICIES
POLICY AREA PHILIPPINES
Legal Framework
Special education in the
Philippines is primarily
governed by the “Education
for Persons with Disabilities
Act” (Republic Act No. 7277)
and the “Magna Carta for
Disabled Persons” (Republic
Act No. 9442). These laws
outline the rights and
privileges of individuals with
disabilities, including their
right to education.
Funding Mechanism Special education and
inclusive education in the
Philippines are primarily
funded by the government,
including the national and
local governments.
The national government
allocates funds for special
education programs and
services through the
Department of Education
(DepEd).
Local government units
(LGUs) also contribute to
funding special education
initiatives, and the allocation
of funds can vary among
UNITED STATES OF
AMERICA
Special education in the USA
is mainly governed by the
Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA). IDEA
is a federal law that provides
students with disabilities the
right to a free appropriate
public education (FAPE) in
the least restrictive
environment. Additionally,
Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act and the
Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) also play a
significant role in protecting
the rights of individuals with
disabilities.
Federal Funding (IDEA):
In the USA, special education
funding is primarily provided
through the federal
government's Individuals
with Disabilities Education
Act (IDEA). IDEA allocates
funds to states based on
formulas that consider factors
such as the state's total
population and the number of
children with disabilities.
State Funding:
States also contribute to
 LGUs based on their budgets
and priorities.
DepEd Budget:
The Department of Education
(DepEd) manages the budget
for special education
programs in the Philippines.
DepEd’s budget includes
funding for the salaries of
special education teachers,
the operation of special
education centers, and the
provision of resources and
materials for students with
disabilities.
Donor and NGO Support:
In some cases, international
donors and non-governmental
organizations (NGOs)
provide support and funding
for special education projects
and initiatives in the
Philippines.
Inclusion Strategies In the Philippines, inclusive
education is promoted
through the “Education for
All (EFA) 2015” and the
“Inclusive Education
Framework for Children and
Youth with Special Needs.”
These policies emphasize the
right of children with
disabilities to access quality
education in regular schools.
special education funding,
and the specific funding
mechanisms can vary from
state to state.
Many states provide
additional funding to
supplement federal IDEA
funds to meet the unique
needs of their students with
disabilities.
States may use various
methods, such as grants,
categorical aid, or general
education funding, to allocate
resources for special
education.
Local Funding:
Local school districts in the
USA typically provide a
significant portion of special
education funding.
Funding at the local level can
vary widely based on
property taxes, local
economic conditions, and the
number of students with
disabilities in each district.
This local funding allows
school districts to tailor
special education services to
the needs of their students.
Individualized Education
Programs (IEPs):
In the USA, the cornerstone
of special education and
inclusion is the development
of Individualized Education
Programs (IEPs). These plans
are created for each student
with a disability and outline
their unique educational
Curriculum Adaptation:
Inclusive strategies in the
Philippines often involve
adapting the curriculum to
meet the diverse needs of
students with disabilities.
This may include
modifications to teaching
materials, instructional
methods, and assessment
procedures.
Teacher Training:
In-service and pre-service
teacher training programs in
the Philippines increasingly
emphasize inclusive
education. Teachers are
trained to use various
teaching strategies, adapt
materials, and provide
support to students with
disabilities.
Resource Centers:
Special Education (SPED)
centers in the Philippines
offer resources and support to
both students and teachers.
These centers provide
assessment, training, and
materials to facilitate
inclusion.
Parent and Community
Involvement:
Inclusive education in the
Philippines often involves
engaging parents and
communities to support
students with disabilities.
This may include parent-
teacher collaboration and
community awareness
programs.
goals, services, and
accommodations.
IEP teams, which typically
include parents, educators,
and specialists, collaborate to
design and implement
inclusive strategies tailored to
each student’s needs.
Least Restrictive
Environment (LRE):
The concept of LRE is
fundamental in the USA. It
means that students with
disabilities should be
educated in regular
classrooms to the maximum
extent appropriate. Inclusion
efforts are aimed at placing
students with disabilities
alongside their non-disabled
peers whenever feasible.
Special education services
may be provided within the
general education classroom
or through a combination of
inclusive and specialized
instruction.
Support Services:
Inclusive education in the
USA often involves a range
of support services, including
special education teachers,
speech therapists,
occupational therapists, and
physical therapists.
Students with disabilities may
also receive classroom
accommodations and
modifications, such as
extended time for
assignments or assessments,
assistive technology, and
behavioral interventions.
Professional Development:
 Advocacy:
Advocacy groups and
organizations in the
Philippines play a crucial role
in promoting inclusive
education and ensuring that
the rights of students with
disabilities are protected.
Support Systems Inclusive Education Policy:
The Philippines has policies
in place, such as the
"Inclusive Education
Framework for Children and
Youth with Special Needs," to
promote inclusive education.
These policies emphasize
access to quality education
for students with disabilities
in regular schools.
Special Education Centers
(SPED Centers):
SPED centers in the
Philippines serve as key
support systems. They
provide assessment, training,
Continuous professional
development for educators is
a key component of inclusion
strategies in the USA.
Teachers are trained in
differentiated instruction,
behavior management
techniques, and strategies for
meeting diverse learning
needs.
Legal Protections:
Legal frameworks like the
Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA),
Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act, and the
Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA) provide strong
protections for the rights of
students with disabilities,
ensuring they have access to
inclusive education.
Philippines:
United States of America:
Individualized Education
Programs (IEPs):
IEPs are a cornerstone of
support for students with
disabilities in the USA. These
are personalized plans that
outline the specific
educational goals, services,
and accommodations needed
for each student.
IEP teams, which typically
include parents, educators,
and specialists, work together
to create, implement, and
review these plans.
Special Education Services:
and materials to facilitate the
inclusion of students with
disabilities.
These centers offer resources
and support to both students
and teachers.
Teacher Training and
Professional Development:
In-service and pre-service
teacher training programs
increasingly emphasize
inclusive education. Teachers
are trained to use various
teaching strategies and adapt
materials to support students
with disabilities.
Community Involvement:
In the Philippines,
community involvement and
support are often integral to
inclusive education. This may
include parent-teacher
collaboration, community
awareness programs, and the
active participation of local
stakeholders.
Advocacy Groups:
Advocacy groups and
organizations in the
Philippines play a crucial role
in promoting inclusive
education and ensuring the
rights of students with
disabilities are protected.
Government Funding and
Support:
Government agencies, such
as the Department of
Education (DepEd), allocate
funds and resources to
support inclusive education
initiatives.
In summary, while both the
Philippines and the United
States provide support
systems for students with
Special education services in
the USA are comprehensive
and may include services
such as speech therapy,
occupational therapy,
physical therapy, counseling,
and assistive technology.
Students with disabilities may
receive support from special
education teachers, who are
trained to work with diverse
learning needs.
Resource Centers:
Special education resource
centers and regional
education agencies exist in
many states to provide
guidance, materials, and
professional development for
educators and parents.
These centers offer expertise
on inclusive practices,
disability-specific strategies,
and legal requirements.
Legal Protections:
The legal framework in the
USA, including the
Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act (IDEA),
Section 504 of the
Rehabilitation Act, and the
Americans with Disabilities
Act (ADA), provides strong
protections and rights for
students with disabilities.
These laws ensure access to
appropriate education,
accommodations, and non-
discrimination.
Parent and Advocacy
Organizations:
Various parent and advocacy
organizations, such as the
Parent Training and
disabilities and inclusive Information Centers (PTIs)
education, the specific and Disability Rights
structures and resources differ organizations, offer
due to their distinct information, support, and
educational systems and legal advocacy assistance to
frameworks. The USA places families of children with
a strong emphasis on disabilities.
individualized plans,
specialized services, and legal
protections, whereas the
Philippines focuses on
teacher training, community
involvement, and
government-funded support
centers. Ultimately, effective
support systems depend on
the commitment of educators,
parents, and communities to
implement inclusive practices
and ensure the inclusion of all
students.