Developing quality learning in inclusive schools is an essential issue for educators. Several aspects that need to be considered to create quality learning in inclusive schools are assessment, lesson planning, good classroom management, learning materials and media development, implementation of accessible education using appropriate technologies…

The purpose of the current study was to determine how students identified as Emotionally Disturbed (ED) with severe internalizing concerns who receive special education services are placed in different school districts throughout the country. Examining the variance in how this population is placed in different parts of the country is of…

Within the five chapters of this dissertation, the overall theme was to examine student goal setting when engaged in the Self-Determined Learning Model of Instruction (SDLMI) in inclusive, secondary, academic content, general education classrooms over multiple years. Chapter 1 provides an overview of self-determination, goal setting, and the…

This causal-comparative quantitative study investigates learning centers as a cooperative learning instructional strategy in the secondary mathematics setting. The research literature on group work within the secondary mathematics classroom indicates that group work is an effective way to increase academic success if supported with effective…

The purpose of this qualitative, phenomenological study was to discover the possible barriers to the implementation of counseling as a related service through the experiences and perceptions of special education directors, guidance counselors, and school psychologists. Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs is the guiding theory, as it has a direct…

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (Smarter Balanced) strives to provide every student with a positive and productive assessment experience, generating results that are a fair and accurate estimate of each student's achievement. Further, Smarter Balanced is building on a framework of accessibility for participating students, including…

Today's schools are challenged to find strategies to guide curriculum and instruction that meets the needs of an increasingly diverse student population. Universal Design for Learning (UDL) is a research-based framework that guides educators to reduce barriers to learning. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to explore the leadership…

Virtual instruction and blended learning are two of the fastest growing learning modalities in K-12 education. Blended learning is a formal education program in which students learn at least in part through online learning with some element of student control over time, place, path or pace and at least in part at a supervised brick and mortar…

This dissertation considers the social, political, legal, cultural, historical, temporal, and other contextual forces concerning educational access for young people experiencing forms of state custody and surveillance at the intersections of multiple identity markers and inquires into efforts to resist injustices. It also explores educational…

The COVID-19 Pandemic that hit the world in the 2019-2020 school year impacted school systems just as it did everything else. School districts had to shift the way instruction was delivered as most districts closed their doors due to the orders of the governor in the spring of 2020. Fear of the Coronavirus and the unknown of its potential to…

This qualitative phenomenological study explored the barriers, solutions, and drivers of change for the inclusion of students with disabilities in Catholic elementary schools from parents' perspectives. Eight open-ended interviews were conducted with the parents of students with disabilities who attended Catholic or public elementary schools,…

The purpose of this research study is to comprehend the perception and practices of New Jersey public school educators serving students in kindergarten through 12th-grade settings, regarding factors impacting placement in the least restrictive environment for special education students. This study explored how educators rate the implementation of…

The problem investigated in this study was the struggle of rural schools to successfully implement inclusion due to limited financial resources. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine strategies to promote inclusion in a rural school district despite limited financial resources. Self-efficacy theory and school climate theory…

Background: An estimated 1 in 5 adolescents have sustained a concussion in North America. Teachers and school administrators are responsible for implementing academic accommodations and other supports for optimal return to learn following a concussion. The primary objective of this study was to describe the prevalence and feasibility of providing…

When parents enroll their children who qualify for special education services in fully online schools, that decision was an exercise of agency. Less is known about how parents understand and negotiate their agencies "after enrolling." Researchers interviewed 18 parents of children with special educational needs in fully online schools in…