The state of Delaware has a Dual Language Immersion program serving students from different backgrounds and varying socioeconomic statuses with a wide range of diverse needs. The state has ever-increasing difficulty finding qualified teachers who also speak the target language of the program, in this case, Spanish. As a result, districts within…

Meeting the academic and behavioral needs of students with and without disabilities and improving educational outcomes requires effective school-based and special education teaming. Yet, more often than not, frontline practitioners have been prepared to work individually rather than together in problem-solving teams. Furthermore, teachers receive…

This study of usage and effectiveness of Goalbook Toolkit is based on student data from a large suburban school district in the northeastern US and teacher-level application usage data from Goalbook Toolkit from the 2021-2022 school year. Goalbook Toolkit enables teachers to personalize instructional supports for specialized student populations.…

This qualitative research explored pre-service teachers' understanding of special education transition planning. Findings suggest pre-service teachers increased their understanding of transition planning, accessing post-secondary services, and supporting students obtaining and maintaining employment. By including expert community members,…

This mixed-methods phenomenological study examined elements that impact Individualized Education Program (IEP) team members in supporting placement for students with disabilities (SWD) in inclusive early childhood education programs. Best practices in education and federal law stipulate that schools educate SWD in settings as close to general…

This study documents teachers' perceived impact of a massive open online course (MOOC) entitled The Self-Determined IEP: Supporting "Success for Students with Behavioural and Adjustment Difficulties" using Coldwell & Simkins' (2011) model for evaluating continuing professional development in education. Employing pre-experimental…

Discipline disproportionality among African American students with disabilities is well documented in empirical research; however, there are limited studies about school administrators' perspectives on practices leading to disproportionality for this population. The purpose of this study was to examine school administrators' perspectives on…

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) are the legal documents guiding the education of students with disabilities served under IDEA. Despite the importance of these documents, noncompliance and lack of quality remain in the present levels of academic and functional performance, annual goals and objectives, and supplementary aids and services…

"Related Services in Special Education: Working Together as a Team" is a resource for anyone who works with school-age children with disabilities to showcase the professional expertise and value-add related services providers bring to the IEP team and school community. With a theme of intentional collaboration and communication, this…

This mixed methods study addresses special education teachers' (SETs) knowledge and beliefs about specially designed instruction for reading, individualized education program (IEP) development, and aspects of future professional development opportunities that are supportive on these topics. Special education teachers are the primary authors of the…

This article examines the perceptions, attitudes, understanding, and knowledge of special education case managers in the United States working with students with disabilities who identify as LGBTQ+. Through a qualitative descriptive study grounded in descriptive phenomenological theory, the study examines the case managers' personal experiences…

This article investigated teachers' self-efficacy, educational practices, challenges and support for students with disabilities in the inclusive classroom. Students with disabilities face many adversities today, such as rejection, stigma, discrimination and lack of support in the classroom. We employed an interdisciplinary and pluralistic approach…

Parent engagement in the transition planning process for students with IEPs is an essential indicator for positive post-school outcomes for students with disabilities graduating from high school. Barriers to parent participation include lack of communication, trust, and knowledge of the process in which they are participating. Educators must seek…

The Model Classroom Initiative (MCI) was conceptualized to improve learning and IEP goal attainment while decreasing maladaptive behaviors in specialized instructional program classrooms. The MCI Coaching Model was utilized to assist teachers with the implementation of MCI components in three specialized instructional program classrooms, all of…

The writing of legally compliant Individualized Education Programs (IEP) has been a difficult task for many educators. Poor quality writing of IEPs has caused a myriad of issues. Parents have brought lawsuits upon school districts and inaccurately written IEPs have been interpreted erroneously or presented an incorrect picture of the student.…