ERIC Number: EJ963383
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2011-Sep
Pages: 18
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-1525-1810
EISSN: N/A
Does Self-Contained Special Education Deliver on Its Promises? A Critical Inquiry into Research and Practice
Causton-Theoharis, Julie; Theoharis, George; Orsati, Fernanda; Cosier, Meghan
Journal of Special Education Leadership, v24 n2 p61-78 Sep 2011
Numerous scholars contend that students with and without disabilities benefit both socially and academically from inclusive services. Other researchers advocate for educating students with disabilities in self-contained settings. The aim of this article is to compare the literature on the rationale for use of self-contained special education classes with the practices adopted in schools by answering the following research question: What are the social, emotional, and academic experiences of students with disabilities placed in self-contained programs? The findings of this study suggest that the purported rationale for self-contained special education in the literature--issues of community, distraction-free environments, specialized curriculum/instruction, and behavioral supports--were not present in the six observed self-contained settings. Implications for school leaders are discussed and the rationales for the utilization of self-contained classrooms are strongly questioned. (Contains 2 tables and 1 figure.)
Descriptors: Disabilities, Self Contained Classrooms, Special Education, Educational Quality, Inclusion, Literature Reviews, Classroom Environment, Observation, Student Needs, Student Behavior, Court Litigation, Mainstreaming, Educational Legislation, Federal Legislation, Curriculum, Disproportionate Representation
Council of Administrators of Special Education. Fort Valley State University, 1005 State University Drive, Fort Valley, GA 31030. Tel: 478-825-7667; Fax: 478-825-7811; Web site: http://www.casecec.org
Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: No Child Left Behind Act 2001
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A