This paper analyses the special educational resources in the Swedish upper secondary schools using a total population survey that covers all upper secondary schools. Special educators and special teachers together constitute the special educational resources at each school. With two types of regression models (logistic and linear regression), the…

The article analyses the forces behind the establishment and expansion of special education within the Swedish elementary school between 1842, when schooling became compulsory, and the gradual introduction of the experimental comprehensive school in the 1950s. Around the turn of the century, special classes began to replace grade-repeating and…

This article describes various views of special teacher students towards inclusion. In order to examine these, we analysed a series of statements made by students in Finland, Norway and Sweden. The specific aims were to see how these views can be seen as supportive or challenging for inclusion in schools. A questionnaire with one closed question…

In the present online survey, 158 teachers in regular and special education teaching in grades six to nine were asked to rate the importance of probable reasons for problematic school absenteeism. On average, the teachers estimated that among their students, 19 students had presented with problematic school absenteeism over the last five years.…

The general aim of the present study was to explore how head teachers (N = 683) for older students and head teachers (N = 250) for younger students in Swedish compulsory schools describe handling procedures of special education issues in their schools. Two questionnaire surveys on such issues were conducted during the spring term of 2008 among…

To support the national and international aims of inclusion, "special teacher" training in Sweden was replaced in 1990 by "special educator" training. These special educators would supervise the teachers in their school and would not exclusively teach students. The aim of this study was to investigate what the principals of 14…

In a longitudinal intervention study, the effects of three intervention strategies on the reading skills of children with reading disabilities in Grade 2 were analyzed. The interventions consisted of computerized training programs: One bottom-up intervention aimed at improving word decoding skills and phonological abilities, the second…

Appropriate teacher education for special education teachers in Sweden must take into account the following concepts: one handicap often causes a second (often social or psychological); education must begin where the child is, focusing on strengths rather than weaknesses; and team units should be used which are comprised of both ordinary and…

This paper examines trends in special education teacher education in Sweden from 1921 to 1981. Changes such as the institution of a one-year special education teacher training course are discussed, with emphasis on changes in the relationship of special education to the whole school system. Trends and goals since 1981 are also briefly noted.…

This thesis reports on a study in which 10 Swedish special education teachers were interviewed concerning the following six topics: (1) personal background and choice of a career; (2) professional knowledge; (3) the role of a special education teacher; (4) educational goals and methods; (5) cooperation; and (6) thoughts about the future.…

This paper looks at trends toward more inclusive education for students with disabilities in Sweden in the context of budgetary cut-backs in school resources. It reports on a project that investigated processes of defining target populations for special education in Swedish schools. Special educators (N=27), classroom teachers (N=35) and…