The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of IXL Math online software in raising student achievement on the New York State Math exam, with special focus on effects by student gender, ethnicity and disability status. The study includes an analysis of the relationship between scale scores and time spent using the IXL system, number…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to define the experiences of special education (SPED) teachers in U.S. classrooms who are teaching students diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) communication skills. As the number of ASD learners increases in the U.S., there is a need to understand the real-life experiences of teachers…

With increased rigor and accountability standards in elementary school, the kindergarten curriculum has similarly become more demanding. These increased demands have augmented concerns that young children may not be able to cope with the demands of formal schooling. One way to address concerns about school readiness is by altering a child's…

Charter Schools have been a part of the national landscape for more than 20 years. Yet, with regard to special education, there continues to be considerable confusion and differences in perspective between charter schools and the diverse entities that oversee them. There is also considerable variation in how each oversight entity works with…

The United Nation's "Convention of the Rights of Persons with Disabilities" in 2006 declared the need for countries to facilitate the right of individuals with disabilities to their full inclusion and participation within communities across the globe. The community clearly plays a necessary role in the overall preparation and quality of…

Peer mediated supports involve typical peers without disabilities providing assistance to classmates with disabilities. As an intervention peer mediated supports can serve as an alternative to the use of one-on-one paraprofessionals. Peer mediated supports have been identified as a research based practice for promoting academic learning and social…

To counter the narratives about African American males in special education, my poetic account represents the voice of a gifted AA male with dyslexia. I applied critical disability theory to learn, and become mindful, about my academic journey and how my identity was shaped. As an auto-ethnographer, I examined my schooling to understand my…

The U.S. Department of Education (Department) issued a Dear Colleague Letter (Letter) on November 16, 2015, to "clarify that an individualized education program (IEP) for an eligible child with a disability under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) must be aligned with the State's academic content standards for the grade in…

This study was conducted to examine the Fundamental Movement Skills (FMS) levels of male students with intellectual disabilities between the ages of 10 and 18 years old. A total of 126 students with intellectual disabilities (IQ < 50), who were attending special education schools in South Korea, participated in the study. FMS were assessed…

With increased emphasis on improved postsecondary outcomes for all students, including students with disabilities, it is critical to extend effective practices identified through rigorous research to the practitioner level. Recent policies and initiatives can feel overwhelming to school staff (i.e., ESSA, IDEA, CCSS), thus there is a need for a…

Children with disabilities began to appear with increasing frequency as characters in children's books following the United States Congress's passage in 1975 of the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, the precursor to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Researchers have done important work over the past forty years by…

A systematic review was conducted to analyze the scope and breadth of the existing training protocols for establishing social and communicative behavior using high-tech, touchscreen devices. This review aimed to determine the degree to which studies evaluating high-tech communication aides have established procedures to extend, or completely…

The 2016 Professional Benchmark Survey marks the next step in the evolution of AHEAD's benchmarking work. Since 2004, AHEAD has been conducting periodic surveys of disability resource professionals in higher education to better understand the field and the professionals they serve. This is the fifth iteration of AHEAD's survey of disability…

The author, former director of the Office of Special Education Programs in the U.S. Department of Education, describes policy changes that are needed to move the nation toward the positive life outcomes Congress articulated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. Five policy recommendations are each supported by…

Bleak transition outcomes for youth with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), coupled with the surge in incidence, has led to the need for focused and innovative transition strategies. While structured community service reveals promise, documentation of how community service experiences contribute to building employment skills for youth with…