Lessons from California Districts Showing Unusually Strong Academic Performance for Students in Special Education
Abstract
Through a rigorous selection process based on special education performance over four years, we identified eight unified districts that showed unusually strong academic performance for their special education population compared to similar districts in California. We conducted interviews with these districts’’ special education directors to identify the policies and practices they credited for their success. Ultimately, we selected four districts for quantitative and qualitative data analysis. The main themes that emerged across the four districts are consistent with the research and literature on effective practices leading to improved student achievement for students in special education: inclusion and access to the core curriculum (four districts); collaboration between special education and general education teachers (four districts); continuous assessment and use of Response to Intervention (RtI) (three districts); and targeted professional development (three districts). We believe that these findings, and the districts themselves, can serve as models for other districts that are struggling to improve the performance of students in special education in their districts.
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A Cross-Case Analysis of Promising Practices in Selected Massachusetts Urban Public Schools
This study, which remains ongoing, was undertaken by the University of Massachusetts Donahue Institute at the direction of the Massachusetts State Legislature through funding provided in an earmark within the budget of the Massachusetts Office of Educational Quality and Accountability (EQA). The goal of this study is to identify educational practices that are supportive of Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) achievement among elementary and middle school students with special needs in urban public schools in Massachusetts. In order to meet this goal, the Institute, in collaboration with EQA, designed a research plan for fiscal year 2004 that consisted of two broad phases.
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Equity Alliance
The Equity Alliance promotes equity, access, and participation in education. The Alliance supports the capacity of state and local school systems to provide high quality, effective opportunities to learn for all students, and to reduce disparities in academic achievement.
Inclusive Education for Equity is a professional learning module that includes three academies:
1. Understanding Inclusive Education traces a path toward inclusive education in the United States
2. Exploring Inclusive Practices in Schools delves into how to build inclusive schools and what they look like
3. Exploring Inclusive Practices in Classrooms help participants to learn about what inclusive education looks like within a classroom setting
Each academy includes a Facilitator’s Manual, Facilitator PowerPoints and Participant Handouts.
Inclusive Education for Equity is a professional learning module that includes three academies:
1. Understanding Inclusive Education traces a path toward inclusive education in the United States
2. Exploring Inclusive Practices in Schools delves into how to build inclusive schools and what they look like
3. Exploring Inclusive Practices in Classrooms help participants to learn about what inclusive education looks like within a classroom setting
Each academy includes a Facilitator’s Manual, Facilitator PowerPoints and Participant Handouts.
