Standards-based grading has been used in many Illinois public elementary schools for years, offering educators a different way of assessing and communicating to parents about their student achievement and performance on the grade level state standards. Educators faced many benefits and challenges using a standards-based grading system identified.…

The purpose of this dissertation was to examine the experiences and literacy development of elementary students receiving Tier 2 reading intervention services. Specifically, this qualitative case study explored the questions of: (a) In what ways are third- and fourth-grade students who are receiving Tier 2 reading intervention experiencing their…

This exploratory case study was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of Voyager Sopris' Read Well program when implemented as a reading intervention in elementary self-contained special education classrooms. This research expands on previous research investigating the implementation of the Read Well with target populations, including those…

Teachers across the United States have implemented the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in math since their release in 2010. These standards were created for all students, both in general education and special education settings; yet, the findings of this study showed one set of standards for every student does not make every student…

This case study examined the school-based interventions used to determine a self-contained special education placement for a fourth-grade African American male student with an emotional disturbance disability. The study aimed to answer four research questions, which included the academic and behavioral school-based interventions provided to the…

The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore transformational leadership practices in principals through the eyes of special education teachers, and their effect on teacher commitment. The conceptual framework of this study was based on Bass' (1985) transformational leadership model guided by Kouzes and Posner's (1987) five exemplary…

The purpose of this research was to examine the relationship between State of Texas Assessments of Academic Readiness (STAAR) reading and academic progress in the programs of Istation and Star Renaissance (Star Ren) in fourth grade special education students. Special education students in the selected school district appear to produce inconsistent…

Special education in the United States has been historically problematic for several reasons, and limited research has been conducted to examine the close connection between teachers' experiences in the classroom (both general and special education teachers) and principals' leadership. Teacher perceptions have a great impact on the learning of…

As caseloads for special education teachers continue to rise and as more students with disabilities enter the regular education setting (U.S. Department of Education, 2016), the need for co-teaching, in which a special education teacher and regular education teacher work together in one classroom to meet all students' needs, is significant.…

The purpose of this mixed methods study was to examine the relationship between students' physical education fitness norms and academic achievement measures in a suburban elementary school. Does high or low performance on physical fitness tests align with high or low academic achievement from standardized testing? The study sought to determine the…

Effective inclusive teaching practice enables differently abled students to be educated in the general education setting alongside their peers, providing equitable educational opportunities. The purpose of this action research study was to explore and strengthen how general educators, special educators, and support staff (referred to as…

Classroom management, although considered one of the essentials of the optimal learning experience, is often a challenge for teachers. Certain classroom management strategies, such as group contingency interventions and token economies, are evidence-based strategies to aid teachers in gaining successful management of the classroom. The utilization…

The purpose of this qualitative descriptive study was to explore how special education teachers describe selecting and applying differentiated instructional strategies for students with mild, moderate, to severe disabilities in self-contained classrooms within a school district in Arizona. Jean Piaget's social constructivism theory and Carol Ann…

Inclusion classrooms were introduced in the United States in 1990 when the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act required that special education students be instructed in a general education setting. Ensuing changes in instructional formats have caused role confusion for special and general education teachers, resulted in mixed attitudes…

Teachers' awareness of each other's teaching styles can only enlighten the circumstances children face in the educational arena. There is a need for educators to be understood and appreciated for what they contribute to the learning environment and process. This study measured the perceptions of general education teachers and special education…