While differences in national contexts are associated with variations in how teachers are trained and school systems are organised, the conceptual and philosophical problems of equity and inclusion in schooling are shared concerns. This paper describes how the structure and content of an initial teacher education programme for primary and…

Institutional politics and diversity of ideological positions create challenges for teaching staff with polarised beliefs about inclusive education. This paper provides a methodological justification for a longitudinal study of the experience of developing an integrated "inclusive education" curriculum in one initial teacher education…

In most western countries, the problems of effective university-controlled and largely university-based initial teacher education (ITE) have been apparent for many decades: whatever is achieved in the university, the teaching practices and attitudes that student-teachers usually learn to adopt are those currently dominant in the schools. So it is…

This paper emerges from an ongoing study which involved, firstly, key informant interviews with strategic personnel within the Irish education system, such personnel representing both service providers and service users. The first part of this paper provides a brief summary of the findings of that aspect of the study in relation to the key…

This article describes a framework for building more inclusive, effective, and successful schools in poor rural and urban communities called "Whole Schooling". Multiple barriers to inclusive schools are identified, the commonalties and differences between poor rural and urban schools are explored, and specific strategies for utilizing available…

Northern Ireland has invested heavily in the use of technology enhanced learning at all levels of education. Alongside this, radical changes to the school curriculum and the planned move away from academic selection towards a more inclusive system are challenging those involved in Initial Teacher Education to find ways to improve teaching and…

This article presents an agenda for educational change that identifies core issues in early childhood inclusion as well as the mechanisms and strategies to address those issues at the systems, program development, and research levels. Recommendations include development and dissemination of effective practices and evidence-based guidelines.…

The evolution of a school-linked service integration model that is geared to school restructuring processes is described, and systemic restructuring components are discussed. Information on the inclusion of all students with disabilities in the model is provided. A case study is presented of a first grader with emotional disturbances, who, after…

The Index for Inclusion is a compilation of materials to support British schools in the process of inclusive school development. Part 1 introduces the Index, then identifies the following key concepts: inclusion, barriers to learning and participation, resources to support learning and participation, and support for diversity. Part 1 then…

This commentary reacts to an article that presented an agenda for educational change to encourage early childhood inclusion. It calls for a leadership agenda for the nation, agreement about inclusion as a feasible program model, development and dissemination of effective practices and evidence-based guidelines, family involvement, and increased…

This paper offers a literature review of materials concerning inclusion of students with disabilities, and reports on the 3-year development of an inclusion program at one elementary school in Texas. The literature review is organized into sections which address legislative initiatives and law, special education programs with mainstreaming, the…

This feature issue on inclusion and school restructuring for students with and without disabilities contains the following articles: (1) "The 7 Habits for Educators" (Terri Vandercook); (2) "The Evolution of Inclusive Education" (Jennifer York-Barr and Terri Vandercook); (3) "Creating Inclusive Schools: What Does the…

This theme issue reports on a national survey to identify inclusive education programs for students with disabilities. First, chief state school officers were surveyed to identify local school districts where inclusion activities were taking place, including information about policy, funding, and evaluation. Next, districts identified were…

This monograph provides a structured planning process and information on best educational practices for serving students with emotional/behavior disorders (E/BD) placed in general education classrooms. After an introductory chapter, the guide: (1) addresses the controversy concerning inclusion for students with emotional/behavioral disorders; (2)…

This report recounts the process of desegregation of the education service in the London (England) borough of Newham. It shows how inclusion in the borough began and was sustained by an understanding of inclusion as a human rights issue. It charts the steps which brought about the closure of most of the authority's separate special schools and…