This book provides an in-depth, research-based guide for ensuring that your school provides the federally guaranteed "least restrictive environment" for students no matter the severity of the challenges they face. "Leading an Inclusive School: Access and Success for ALL Students" offers administrators, teachers, and other…

Student growth is one of two essential components of South Dakota's Teacher and Principal Effectiveness Systems. In the state systems, student growth is defined as a positive change in student achievement between two or more points in time. "The South Dakota SLO Handbook" provides support and guidance to public schools and school…

Explores key issues in designing and implementing responsible and effective co-teaching programs. Defines co-teaching and illustrates a variety of manifestations of the concept. Also discusses establishing collaborative co-teaching relationships, introducing co-teaching to stakeholders, and fitting co-teaching into more conventional school…

This article explores two issues in conducting qualitative research: (1) the essentials of data collection, and (2) the unique role of the researcher in the data collection process. The author's own research study on use of health and medical information by various members of a classroom team for special education students is used to illustrate…

This paper describes co-teaching as a collaborative, equal relationship between a regular classroom teacher and a special educator which allows for meeting the needs of a greater number of students with disabilities within a single regular classroom program. The co-teaching relationship is thought to develop through a series of three stages: (1)…

This article describes four ways experienced co-teachers, especially regular and special educators, can maintain mature co-teaching relationships. Celebrating accomplishments, re-evaluating team goals, sustaining equitable practices, and maintaining continuous improvement are suggested as specific strategies for keeping the co-teaching…

This article provides guidelines and strategies that can be employed to examine the experiences and perceptions of cooperative teaching teams, to validate successful collaborative practices, and to identify practices in need of revision. It discusses interviews and surveys, use of best practices checklists, conducting teaching observations, and…

The No Child Left Behind Act and the reauthorization of federal special education legislation have brought increased pressure for educators. School reformers have set higher standards and teachers are responsible for ensuring that students meet them. Students with disabilities and other special needs generally are expected to achieve the same…

Trends in student assessment in classrooms including students with and without disabilities are identified, and an approach called cooperative assessment, in which teachers consult to share knowledge and cooperate to solve problems, is detailed. A six-step cooperative assessment process is outlined. (DB)

This paper discusses key principles that should be addressed by general and special educators when instructing students jointly. Principles are drawn from the literature on educational consultation, from interviews with educators who have implemented collaborative instructional programs, and from personal experience with collaborative instruction.…

The article discusses how the collaborative relationships of classroom, remedial, and special education teachers might be improved to develop specialized reading programs for low achieving and handicapped students. A decision-making framework based on levels of intensity of instruction is offered for the stages of the consultative process.…

Describes four models for grouping in cooperative teaching settings with a regular and a special educator. Common coteaching issues such as grading and classroom management are addressed. Charts provide a framework for lesson planning in coteaching settings. (DB)

This article presents a teacher collaboration model called curriculum-based collaboration (CBC), which utilizes the differing expertise and perspectives of general and special education teachers. CBC includes several steps: (1) identify key content; (2) hold a planning meeting; (3) deliver instruction; (4) conduct an interim assessment; (5)…

The importance of multilevel planning in the increasing use of coteaching models as one means of providing special education services in general education classrooms is addressed. Guidelines for planning for effective coteaching are offered at the district level, the building level, and the classroom level. (DB)

This article contains a series of recommendations to improve collaborative teaching culled from interviews with administrators, teachers, parents, and students from 10 schools. General recommendations addressing service delivery, administrative, and communication issues are included, along with training recommendations for new and indirectly…