This qualitative action research study examined teachers' perceptions about co-teaching and its effectiveness as an instructional model for students with disabilities. One-on-one interviews were conducted with eight elementary and secondary teachers from a medium sized school district located in Southwest Ohio that has a students' with…

The focus of this study was on increasing the knowledge base on students with disabilities at the secondary level. Data were gathered on 559 classified secondary students with disabilities served in four educational options: cotaught classes, resource rooms, alternate day support programs, and no direct supports. Results indicate that there are…

We assessed the impact of checklist-based training on teaching teams' use of the zone defense schedule. Three teaching teams (lead teacher plus 2 assistant teachers) in an inclusive early childhood program participated. A multiple baseline design across teams was used to determine whether accurate implementation of the zone defense schedule…

Co-teaching has recently gained popularity and attention as a viable service delivery option for students with disabilities and other special needs. Although co-teaching includes the three components of co-planning, co-instructing, and co-assessing, the professional literature has primarily focused on co-planning and co-instructing. Co-assessment,…

With pressures from NCLB intensifying due to low test scores in subgroups including special education, the authors' district, like many others, approached students not as individuals but as rigid categories: "poor," "Hispanic," "African American," "disabled," or "regular"--a category particularly insulting to any student not included in it by…

This research explores using participant ethnography, the theoretical and practical underpinnings of the combination pedagogical approach of co-teaching and embedded professional development within the Co-teaching Professional Development Approach (CoPD). The structure of this approach is presented and the research findings examine the outcomes of…

In response to recent legislative changes including increased graduation requirements and changes in requirements for Highly Qualified status for secondary special education teachers, many schools have implemented co-teaching as a way to deliver special education services to students with high-incidence disabilities and to increase access to and…

Communication and professional dialogue are essential elements of a high-quality education environment in which all students can succeed. Such an environment is especially important for the success of students with special needs. Unfortunately, collaboration between special educators, general educators, and other professionals is often hindered by…

Qualitative research methods were used to explore the factors that informed general and adapted physical education teachers' coteaching practices within an inclusive high school physical education program. Two physical education teachers and one adapted physical education teacher were observed over a 16-week period. Interviews, field notes, and…

The purpose of this study was to explore perceptions of teachers who participated in professional learning communities, and the relationship of that participation to collaboration and co-teaching. Semi-structured interviews were employed to understand the perceptions of high school teachers who actively participated in PLCs with the goal of…

Focus group interviews and individual interviews were conducted with 47 faculty members and administrators in a rural school district in Western Pennsylvania to determine strategies for consideration when attempting to establish and implement a co-teaching program. Participants were part of a school district in its second year of adopting a…

This causal comparative study compared reading achievement of middle school students with disabilities (SWD) who were served in the resource class with the reading achievement of middle school SWD who were served in the co-teaching class. Reading achievement of SWD in grades six through eight was statistically analyzed to measure gains made by…

This qualitative case study examined how educators collaborate and coteach within an inclusive classroom. The reauthorization of the original federal disabilities education law, Public Law 94-142, known as the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as well as the No Child Left Behind…

Including students with special needs in the general education classroom is being widely promoted in the public schools. This practice places a heavy burden on the general educator who is often inadequately trained to meet the needs of such a diverse classroom. Co-teaching has been one of the support strategies used to address the challenges and…

When a special education teacher and a general education teacher share a classroom and teaching responsibilities, every student benefits from intensive instruction, increased learning opportunities, and a reduced student-to-teacher ratio. But what does coteaching look like? How does it work? How do you know when you're doing it right? Here's a…