Digital Commons Network^™

Exploration Of Implicit Bias On Multidisciplinary Team Members When Referring African American Students For Special Education Services, Twana Romona Fletcher

Theses and Dissertations

The disproportionality or overrepresentation of African American students in special education is a longstanding problem that continues to be prevalent today. There are numerous reasons why this phenomenon continues to persist including but not limited to implicit bias among multidisciplinary team members (MDT). One function of the MDT is to decide if a student needs to be referred for special education services. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine the decision making processes of the MDT members to determine if implicit bias impacted their decision to refer an African American student for special education services. This qualitative study …

Collaborative Teaching: A Delivery Model To Increase Responsiveness To The Needs Of All Learners Through Academic And Social Inclusion, Dayna Reilly

Dissertations, Masters Theses, Capstones, and Culminating Projects

Students with special needs often miss out on classroom curricula for specialized instruction. While these services are valued for educational benefits, this instruction method often has negative impacts on social-emotional development and targets students for their differing needs.

Integrated collaborative teaching models include collaborative teaching among general and special educators in an inclusive environment. In this descriptive study, the author examined integrated collaborative teaching as a delivery model to increase responsiveness to the needs of all learners through academic and social inclusion.

This study involved students with a wide range of disabilities from two different grade leveled collaborative classrooms, who …

Learning-Disabled Students: A Comparison Of Achievement Scores Of Students Receiving Services In Pull-Out Classrooms And Inclusion Classrooms, Gerilyn T. Scalf

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The purpose of this study was to compare the achievement scores in reading/language arts and math of fourth and fifth grade special education learning-disabled students who received academic instruction in an inclusion classroom or a pull-out classroom. Student achievement scores from the 2012-2013 Tennessee Comprehensive Assessment Program (TCAP) and the Discovery Education Assessment (DEA) improvement scores were compared with regard to service location and analyzed for significant differences between the locations: inclusion and pull-out classrooms. A quantitative study was used to find the differences in reading/language arts and math achievement scores for fourth and fifth grade special education learning-disabled students …

The Effect Of Repeated Reading Strategy On Oral Reading Fluency Of A Fourth Grade Student With Reading Difficulties, Fatmeh Mahmud Al Jaffal

Theses

I, Fatmeh Mahmud Al-Jaffal, the undersigned, a graduate student at the United Arab Emirates University (UAEU), am the author of this thesis, entitled “The Effect of Repeated Reading Strategy on Oral Reading: Fluency of an Elementary Student with Reading Difficulty”, hereby, solemnly declare that this thesis is an original research work that has been done and prepared by me under the supervision of Dr. Hala El Howeris, of the College of Education at UAEU. This work has not been previously formed as the basis for the award of any academic degree, diploma or a similar title at …

An Investigation Into The Implementation Of The Instructional Consultation Team Model, Kathleen A. Senita

Master's Theses and Doctoral Dissertations

The reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 2004 made Response to Intervention (RtI) an acceptable alternative for identifying students with specific learning disabilities (SLD). The purpose of this study was to examine one particular problem-solving approach, Instructional Consultation (IC) teams within an RtI framework, to determine the knowledge, skills, and beliefs of teachers and administrators about this model and its effect in identifying and supporting students with learning disabilities between two elementary schools in one Michigan school district.

Interviews were done with a typical case sampling of interviewees from within both buildings. Interviewees were both participants …

Perceptions Of Leadership Through The Lens Of Special Education Administrators And Principals, Adam C. Garand

Doctoral Dissertations

The purpose of this dissertation is to investigate leadership perceptions of 30 leaders of special education: 10 administrators of special education, 10 principals, and 10 assistant principals. A Q-sort methodology is used to obtain and analyze participant rankings of 50 leadership statements representing instructional, distributed, and collaborative leadership. Research questions that guide this study include: 1) How are the leadership style statements ranked in relationship to participant roles?; 2) To what extent did the highest ranked leadership style component statements differ from the lowest ranked leadership items?; 3) How did the participants describe the rankings of the overall most and …

Effects Of Cooperation Games On Social Interactions Of Students With Emotional And Behavioral Disorders, Teri Alicia Marx

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Students with emotional and behavioral disorders often present with social skills deficits that negatively impact their outcomes in the educational setting. The inability of students to demonstrate appropriate social skills may lead to placement in more restrictive educational environments, limiting opportunities for social interactions with general education peers. Students from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds are often overrepresented in the disability category of emotional and behavioral disorder and experience more frequent placement in more restrictive settings. Traditionally, students with emotional and behavioral disorders are taught social skills through direct instruction approaches. Limited research has identified if direct instruction approaches to …

Analyses Of Suspension, Expulsion, And Incarceration Data Reported Under Idea 2004, William Dennis Garnett

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Disproportionate representation in special education has been an enduring issue, even before P.L. 94-142. Though the main focus of research in the area of disproportionate representation has been on the placement of students from historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups into special education programs, disproportionality has been found in other areas such as the use of exclusionary practices and placement in correctional facilities. As more data regarding students with disabilities are accumulated, it is important to investigate current trends in order to ensure patterns of disproportionate representation are understood and perhaps remedied. This study focused on state level data reported …

The Fight Within: Experiences Of School District Employees Who Advocate For The Rights Of Their Own Children With Disabilities Inside The Districts Where They Work, A Heuristic Case Study, Keri Haley

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

Parents of children with disabilities face a daunting task when it comes to advocating for the rights of their children in school districts across the country. Yet, when these same parents also work inside those school districts, the challenge to balance their advocacy within the expectations of their employment may come with barriers. The intent of this study was to understand the experiences of people who are parents of children with disabilities, as well as educators, and have had to advocate for their own children inside the school districts where they work. Using a heuristic case study approach, this study …

Implementing A Flexible Approach To Teacher Assignments And Placement Of Students With Special Needs: A Policy Advocacy Document, Kim M. Morley

Dissertations

In February 2013, the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) informed school districts that they were considering changing the rules related to special education class size and the percentage of students with Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) who can be enrolled in regular education classrooms. As of January 17, 2014, the rules related to special education staffing and the percentage of regular and special education students in classrooms are still pending approval by ISBE (Special Education Today, 2014). The purposes of this project are as follows: to advocate for the maintenance of the current rule while building in some flexibility, to …

Middle School Transition: Faculty And Parent Perceptions Of The Academic, Procedural, And Social Changes That Occur Between Elementary And Middle School, Barbara Mckeon

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

This purpose of this study was to investigate the perceptions of parents and faculty regarding the transition from a private special education school to the middle school environment. Research was conducted using a mixed methods design to investigate the attitudes and perceptions of those directly involved with the transition process. Seventeen participants, nine parents and eight faculty participated in both the interviews and questionnaire processes. Social competence, academic competence, procedural challenges, maturational readiness and program planning were dominant themes in this study. The study examined the academic, procedural and social changes that occur in middle school from the stage-environment fit …

A Special Educators Insight On Stigma, Student Performance And Job Satisfaction : Who Determines Educational Success?, Claudette Mincey

Graduate Student Independent Studies

This study describes the views, perceptions and thoughts of special education teachers at a New York City public school in Brooklyn, NY.

Augmented Reality On Mobile Devices To Improve The Academic Achievement And Independence Of Students With Disabilities, Donald Douglas Mcmahon

Doctoral Dissertations

Augmented reality (AR) is a technology that overlays digital information on a live view of the physical world to create a blended experience. AR can provide unique experiences and opportunities to learn and interact with information in the physical world (Craig, 2013). The purpose of this dissertation was to investigate uses of AR on mobile devices to improve the academic and functional skills of students with disabilities.

The first chapter is a literature review providing a clear understanding of AR and its connections with existing learning theories and evidence-based practices that are relevant for meeting the needs of individuals with …

Teaching The Universal Language Of Creativity: A Guide To Training., Carlie R. Arnone

Creativity and Change Leadership Graduate Student Master's Projects

Teaching the Universal Language of Creativity: A Guide to Training.

The purpose of education in any regard is to provide knowledge and information, to teach something. Parents, educators, and professionals alike are experiencing some difficulty in education, in that they are not being properly taught how to nurture some particular needs of individuals with developmental disabilities, specifically on how to use creativity to do so. Educators, parents, and professionals in the field need to start advocating for a balance between strict regulations and creativity. In the recent years, there has been quite the push for creativity and innovation in businesses, …

Differences In Elementary School Team Communication And Practices For Students Of Varied Educational Status, Kathleen Kroll

Dissertations

This dissertation focuses on interdisciplinary problem-solving teams used to address the academic needs of elementary students struggling with reading. Use of teams has a strong theoretical base and wide endorsement by educational leaders, but limited empirical base. Three studies explore teams that convene students of differing academic status: typical learners (TL), literacy-learning risk (LLR), or language-learning disability (LLD).

The first, a survey study of 183 elementary school personnel in 8 professional categories, examines perceptions of teams convened for students with identified learning disabilities in the area of reading, compared with students struggling but unidentified. Results indicate principals, general education teachers, …

Interagency Collaboration For The Provision Of Services To Migrant Children With Disabilities: An Exploratory Study, Georgina Rivera-Singletary

USF Tampa Graduate Theses and Dissertations

ABSTRACT

Migrant students face many challenges to their educational experiences due to the migratory lifestyle of their families as they seek employment in agriculture across state and school district lines. For migrant student with disabilities, these challenges are exacerbated. Migrant children with disabilities may be eligible and entitled to educational services from migrant education, special education, and ELL programs which are distinct federal programs coordinated as separate agencies. This exploratory study examined the extent to which, if any, collaboration exists within three Florida school districts' providing educational services to migrant children with disabilities through the migrant education, special education, and …

The Effects Of Peer Tutoring On Junior High General Education Students' Attitudes Toward Students With Severe Disabilities, Amanda Kim Hunsaker

Theses and Dissertations

The primary purpose of this study was to determine if and how the perceptions of general education students toward their peers with severe disabilities changes when they participate in a peer tutoring program. The study was conducted in a suburban/rural district in Utah and included 102 participants in treatment and control groups over three junior high schools. The data found mixed results. One of the three schools had a significant difference in the attitudes of the treatment group after being part of a peer tutoring program. The study shows that being part of a peer tutoring program can have a …

Teaching High School Students Scientific Concepts Using Graphic Organizers, Kyle Lusk

Theses, Dissertations and Capstones

In the current study, the effect of using graphic organizers as a teaching method in a special education classroom was compared to the effectiveness of lecture style teaching in a regular education classroom. It was hypothesized that the use of graphic organizers in a special education classroom would result in a greater difference between the pre-and post-test measures than the group that was taught using lecture style instruction. Each classroom was given the same pre-test, followed by four weeks of instruction, then the same post-test. A paired samples t-test indicated that there was a significant difference observed in both groups, …

What Are The Similiarities And Differences Of Reading Instruction Of Fourth Grade Students With Learning Disabilities Taught In A Co-Taught Classroom, A Resource Classroom And A Single-Taught Teacher Classroom?, Doreen Cheryl Avenall

Wayne State University Dissertations

WHAT ARE THE SIMILIARITIES AND DIFFERENCES OF READING INSTRUCTION OF FOURTH GRADE STUDENTS WITH LEARNING DISABILITIES TAUGHT IN A CO-TAUGHT CLASSROOM, A RESOURCE CLASSROOM AND A SINGLE-TEACHER TAUGHT CLASSROOM?

By

DOREEN AVENALL

September 2014

Advisor: Dr. Gerald Oglan

Major: Special Education

Degree: Doctor of Education

With the reauthorization of Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) in 2004, more demands are being placed on schools to provide special education services within the general education classroom. The law states that students with disabilities should only be removed from their general education classroom when the nature and severity of the disability is such that …

Sea Island Cascades: An Analysis Of Principals' And Teachers' Perceptions Of Factors Related To The Overrepresentation Of African American Males Identified As Having An Emotional Disability, Jacinta Maria Bryant

Theses and Dissertations

The issue of the overrepresentation of African Americans in special education is a persistent concern that has negatively impacted African American male students, their families, school districts, and the field of special education. School districts throughout the nation report a higher representation of African American males in special education programs than their presence in the general education environment would predict. In South Carolina, 42.5 % of African Americans receive special education services whereas 53% are categorized as having an emotional disturbance (ED). Of the 53% of the African Americans categorized as ED, 79% are males. In the Charleston County School …

Effective Reading Interventions For Spanish-Speaking English Learners With Reading Disabilities, English Learners Who Struggle With Reading, Or Both: A Meta-Analysis Of Second Through Fifth Grades, David Stephens

Doctoral Dissertations

This meta-analysis synthesized research on effective instructional practices and strategies in second through fifth grade for Spanish-speaking English Learners (ELs) who have reading disabilities and English Learners who struggle with reading. The central research problem is the dearth of research addressing literacy instruction for ELs with reading disabilities, making identification of effective reading interventions difficult. The inclusion criteria for the meta-analysis resulted in 15 quasi-experimental or single-subject empirical research studies that used reading interventions to improve the reading comprehension performance of ELs. The overall average effect size for the meta-analysis, not based on homogenous studies, was 1.15. When outliers were …

An Investigation Of Special Education Teachers' Perceptions Of The Effectiveness Of A Systematic 7-Step Virtual Worlds Teacher Training Workshop For Increasing Social Skills, Natalie Christina Nussli

Doctoral Dissertations

This study describes how a systematic 7-Step Virtual Worlds Teacher Training Workshop promoting inquiry, experiential learning, and sociocultural theory guided the enculturation of 18 special education teachers into three-dimensional virtual worlds. The main purpose was to enable these teachers to make informed decisions about the usability of virtual worlds for students with social skills challenges, such as students with autism. Mixed-methods data analysis and triangulation were based on the analysis of seven instruments. Six of the seven steps of the intervention received high ratings indicating its viability for teachers' professional development opportunities