RAND researchers explore the messages teachers receive about what to teach and how to teach English language arts and mathematics in kindergarten through grade 12 schools in the United States, as well as teachers' overall perceptions of coherence and incoherence in instructional systems and how they navigate such systems. The authors conceive of…

This qualitative research study sought to understand the perspectives of teachers of students with significant cognitive disabilities regarding general education curriculum access. The participants in this study raised many questions about what general education curriculum access is and how it might be realized. This study illuminated the need for…

This action research started in year 2009 at LIU Shanghai, a private school for children with autism spectrum disorder, to serve the needs of challenged students. The purpose of this qualitative study was to identify the strengths and challenges of the program, plus solicit recommendations from the parents and teachers for making improvements. The…

This single case study examined how one inner city high school math teacher used e-portfolio assessment in an inclusive classroom setting. Specifically, it describes the teacher's perceptions and use of e-portfolio assessment, and its relationships to curricular content, as well as how the relationships among e-portfolio assessment,…

This is the companion report to "Early Progress: Interim Research on Personalized Learning" which documents the teacher survey results for the 2013-14 school year. Researchers obtained and analyzed both qualitative and quantitative data from each school to create a broad picture of the schools' efforts to implement personalized learning…

Through a series of individual ethnographic interviews and focus groups, I explored the expectations and anticipations of middle and high school special education teachers as they carry out their professional charge of educating their students with intellectual disability for lives in the least restrictive environment, including possible adult…

Researchers and practitioners have emphasized the importance of teaching self-determination skills to students with disabilities for more than a decade. One major barrier to teaching self-determination in recent years has been teachers' not knowing how to focus on reading, writing, and mathematics and simultaneously teach self-determination…

THE REALIZATION OF EQUAL OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL AMERICAN YOUTH REQUIRES A DEMOCRATIC EDUCATION THAT IS EQUALLY GOOD AND EQUALLY ENDURING. EQUAL EDUCATION IMPLIES THE MAXIMUM DEVELOPMENT OF THREE POTENTIALITIES FOR EACH CHILD--(1) DEVELOPMENT OF THE CHILD'S HIGHEST LEVEL OF PSYCHOLOGICAL READINESS TO LEARN BY FREEING HIS NATURAL POTENTIALITIES THROUGH…

This briefing paper discusses academic accommodations for high school students with disabilities. It begins by reviewing provisions under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that require Individualized Education Programs to include a statement of the program modifications or supports that will be provided for the child to enable the…

This article describes a Maryland staff development program that guides educators through an improved Individualized Education Program (IEP) process that provides a better alignment of IEP goals with general education curricular outcomes. The program's components and the teachers' response to the program during the 1999-2000 year are discussed.…

Curriculum beliefs and practices were surveyed with 341 Colorado elementary and secondary special education teachers. Findings include: training in curriculum development occurs mostly on the job; teachers want training in teaching compensatory and life skills; teachers believe that individualized education plans constitute the curriculum for…