The leadership of school building principals who serve as LEA representatives in the context of individualized educational program (IEP) meetings is given the importance of these meetings which directly impact the educational programming for marginalized special education students and further safeguard district compliance with legal mandates. The…

The purpose of this study was to discover the potential relationships between principals' special-education training and experiences and the academic growth of students with disabilities (SWDs). The study also investigated the differences between the academic growth of SWDs at schools where principals have completed a degree, minor, and/or…

This mixed methods case study utilized institution theory, along with liberatory consciousness and DisCrit, to examine the ableist and racist ideologies about Black students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) perpetuated by the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), particularly within a predominantly…

Individuals who work in special education services and the stakeholders in the Individualized Education Program meetings (IEPs) must make educational decisions impacting the child's academic, behavioral, and social development through their academic journey. The mixed-method study sought to investigate administrators' effectiveness at IEP…

A principal has many responsibilities; high on this list includes the need to be educated in current special education requirements to serve students with disabilities. The purpose of this study was to explore the amount of special education legal knowledge that secondary principals in Ohio possess. Demographic information, perceived special…

This study examined elementary school principals' beliefs and practices regarding the types of resources that facilitate collaboration between general and special education staff working on prereferral intervention/Response to Intervention (RtI) teams and serving students with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). In June 2009, elementary…

The purpose of this case study was to examine the schools in Indiana with students identified with disabilities who are performing successfully on the state achievement assessment, ISTEP+. The intent was not to focus on how to help this population of students pass the state assessment, rather it was to see what was happening to make this type of…

This qualitative mixed methods study explored how Special Education Directors transformed and maintained a successful inclusion model throughout their district. The study identified leadership strategies and inclusive behaviors utilized by Special Education Directors who have successfully transformed their district into inclusive school districts.…

Although 95% of the approximately six million students with disabilities aged 6 to 21 years of age are being served in regular schools, a substantial achievement gap continues to exist between these students and their peers in the general K-12 population. Recent studies indicate that an effective teacher is the single most important school-based…

The purpose of this study was to explore the perceptions of public school leaders about principal leadership for special education in ten leadership categories: understanding law and policy, using data to improve teacher performance, using data to improve student performance, creating an inclusive culture, collaborating with families,…

The present study identified factors influencing determination of educational setting for students with Emotional Disturbance (ED). Determination of most appropriate educational setting, a key provision of students' individualized education programs (IEP) continues to be one the most contentious issues in special education. Focus group interviews…

Principals must be instructional leaders in their schools in order to adhere to federal, state, and local mandates as well as being able to discern that the programs for students with disabilities are being developed and implemented with fidelity to meet the needs of those students. The transition a school goes through to include students with…