Family-school partnership is an essential component of the special education process for children with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). Latinx families especially face systemic barriers when participating in education decision-making for their children with IDD. However, few interventions have been developed to facilitate and…

Limited research has examined the qualities of paraprofessional and teacher relationships in schools. Teachers' and paraprofessionals' ability to communicate and collaborate are important for guiding supports for their students. The present study examined characteristics affecting the professional relationship of paraprofessional and teacher pairs…

The increase in English learners (ELs) with disabilities has been reported by others, yet little is known about the transition planning meeting experiences of this population and their post-school expectations. This study explored transition planning experiences and post-school expectations of a nationally representative sample of ELs with…

The current study evaluates lessons learned from a feasibility and acceptability trial of the "Think, Be, Do," curriculum (a mental health literacy curriculum) for transition age students (14-21) in special education classrooms. Six teachers and sixty-two students from a northwest state in suburban and rural settings participated in the…

Through the design of a survey and measure validation using exploratory factor analysis (EFA), we aimed to identify and define constructs required for special education teacher leadership that may inform the focus of professional development opportunities. Results of the analysis indicate a four-factor model is best suited for measuring special…

This descriptive study examined the extratextual utterances of 10 special education teachers as they engaged in shared reading with groups of their students with extensive support needs (ESN) in special education classrooms. The independent variables were grade band (i.e., elementary, middle, high) and students' expressive language (i.e., high…

Students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have complex and unique needs that can impact their success. Evidence-based practices (EBPs) have been identified that are effective with this population, yet educators may not be adequately prepared to implement such EBPs. Special education administrators are frequently responsible for developing and…

Developing informative writing skills at the elementary level is critical for long-term academic and personal success. This study investigated impacts of a schoolwide implementation of Self-Regulated Strategy Development (SRSD) in inclusive classes to improve elementary students' informative writing and teachers' efficacy and perceptions of…

The individualized education program (IEP) process can be difficult for many parents of children with disabilities to navigate. Analyzing qualitative data from a national, web-based survey, this study examined parent experiences during IEP meetings, as well as advice parents have for other families participating in the IEP process. Participants…

Solutions for the special education teacher shortage typically focus on the retention of inservice teachers. A different approach starts earlier, focusing on preservice teachers who are developing their skillsets and determining their field of interest. Using Social Cognitive Career Theory as a framework, we examined preservice teachers' special…

Co-teaching is a widely used service delivery model for special education with significant variability in implementation. In this exploratory study, we examine a three-element model for instruction in co-teaching that is meant to reduce this variability and evaluate its implementation by three secondary co-teaching teams. Changes in teacher…

Family-professional partnerships are an important predictor of student success for children with and without disabilities. However, little is known about the perspectives of fathers of children with complex disabilities regarding their partnerships with educational professionals. This study presents findings from semi-structured interviews with 15…

Parental engagement in special education promotes positive student outcomes and parent-school relationships. In order to promote engagement, parents must possess a basic knowledge and understanding of special education processes and parent and student rights. Little is known regarding parental knowledge about special education or how they learn…

A diagnosis of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) changes family dynamics and impacts family members' lives. Knowing family perceptions of ASD and understanding their experiences and challenges with children's ASD provides more important context for socially valid intervention approaches. In particular, given the increased need for culturally…

The terms parent-teacher relationship and partnership are used frequently throughout the literature in early childhood education and special education. Their prevalence may imply that we know more than we really do about what takes place between families and teachers, and how these parties cultivate and sustain relationships with one another. This…