Access to the General Education Curriculum

This article provides foundational information about access to the GEC. It specifically focuses on academic content standards and academic achievement standards, and how they inform instructional planning.

Academic Standards and Assessments by State 
This table lists academic content standards, general grade-level assessments, alternate assessments, and access/entry points for each state.

Introduction to Accessing the Grade Level General Education Curriculum
This webinar provided foundational information for state deaf-blind project personnel on how to conduct technical assistance related to accessing the general education curriculum.

OSERS Policy Guidance on Free Appropriate Public Education
A key policy letter from OSEP, dated November 16, 2015, written to clarify that an individualized education program (IEP) for an eligible child with a disability under IDEA must be aligned with a state’s academic content standards for the grade in which the child is enrolled.

Standards-Based Individualized Education programs (IEPs) for Students who Participate in AA-AAS (NCSC Brief #5)
This article from the National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC) by Diane Browder provides guidance and examples on how to create IEPs aligned with the academic content standards for a student’s grade level.

Putting it into Practice: Examples from the TA Network on Accessing the GEC
This webinar allowed state deaf-blind projects to share examples of how they are providing TA to support educational teams to meaningfully address the General Education Curriculum.