The transition from primary to secondary school represents one of the key junctions in the educational career of young people. Research has shown that much of the challenge in this transition stems from changing social structures and encountering different learning environments. However, the transition experiences of students with special…

Teachers and parents often find special education law complex and confusing. As one step for a basic foundation in special education law, a previous "TEACHING Exceptional Children" article (Zirkel, 2005) provided a snapshot of the "top five case concepts" based on 10 decisions from the Supreme Court. Each of these decisions…

Transition planning must consider all aspects of the student's postsecondary goals. Although the makeup of personnel in educational settings are predominantly White, the number of students from culturally, ethnically, and linguistically diverse (CELD) backgrounds continues to grow. This article promotes personal reflection on cultural competence,…

This study aims to understand the role that reading motivation plays in middle school reading achievement (including achievement gaps) by analyzing the 2015 grade 8 NAEP reading data. The study focuses on identifying the unique effects of student-level reading motivation and aggregated school-level mean reading motivation on reading achievement.…

This publication serves as a technical paper or How-To-Guide through a detailed description of the intentional step-by-step process Kentucky's executive leaders, educators, and stakeholders used to co-create a Mathematics Usable Innovation. The How-To-Guide includes italicized links to resources: Kentucky Examples, activities and research on the…

Coping with the COVID-19 pandemic has been challenging for all families, especially those caring for young children with disabilities. Of the 24 million children under age 6 in the United States, about 5 percent (1.2 million) have a diagnosed disability, which qualifies them for early intervention or special education services through the…

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy of a comprehensive program model originally developed by the National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorder (NPDC). Sixty elementary schools with 486 participants were randomly assigned to an NPDC and services as usual condition (SAU). Significantly greater changes in program…

This brief examines California's Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS), which is a framework designed to identify and assist students performing below grade level. MTSS involves at least three tiers of support; Tier 2 includes personalized assistance. Unfortunately, Tier 2 services are not adequately resourced so it is not surprising that…

The Conference on College Composition and Communication (CCCC) recognizes the need to promote inclusive approaches and praxes responsive to the needs and experiences of disabled people. Committing to full access and inclusion guarantees the rights of those with disabilities in classrooms and in the profession and energizes practical and…

Rapid change became the norm in March 2020 when the wave of campus transitions began due to COVID-19. While some institutions started the move to remote education as early as February, others held off on transitions until May. Campuses faced another type of transition as plans for re-opening in the fall were underway amid the fluctuating reports…

The role of the school nurse has evolved. It has expanded from administering first aid and promoting hand washing to key participation in program planning for health and educational outcomes for the school-aged child. Nurses provide leadership in promoting a healthy and safe school environment, case management of chronically ill children,…

Music education and music therapy offer many positive benefits for students with disabilities. This chapter highlights some of the most recent research in both fields and in neuroscience that offers strategies for special educators to use to increase inclusion in music classes and ensembles. [For the complete volume, "Interdisciplinary…

Most of the educational activities include the activities regarding reading, writing and speaking abilities. Individuals learn reading-writing through the verbal and written communication processes of their own culture. The most important thing is to be patient in this most troublesome period of the education process. Teachers must know the most…

School leaders have a prominent role on Individual Education Program (IEP) teams and often face very challenging obstacles when determining substantive educational services and placement in the least restrictive environment (LRE) for students with medical disabilities. In absence of federal statutory and regulatory policy, standard legal research…

Students with disabilities and culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) students typically struggle more with writing than their nondisabled and English-proficient peers. Although the reasons are different, these students often face similar difficulties in writing. Self-regulated strategy development (SRSD) is an evidence-based practice for…