School Characteristics
The characteristics of schools can affect the quality of the education they provide. SEELS could capture many dimensions of schools as part of creating a comprehensive picture of the experiences of students in special education. Possible factors for task force consideration include:
Potential research questions related to school characteristics appears in Table 6.
Table 6 |
Potential Research Questions School Characteristics |
Descriptive Questions |
What types of schools serve students in special education? |
How large are schools that serve students in special education? |
What are the missions of schools that serve students in special education? |
What are the characteristics of the study body in schools attended by students in special education? |
What is the school climate and leadership like in schools attended by students in special |
What policies and practices related to special education are pursued by schools? E.g., to what extent are schools using pre-referral strategies? What referral processes do schools employ to determine eligibility for special education? What disciplinary policies are enforced? |
What placement and service options are available at the schools? |
How are IEPs developed and used? |
What school-wide reforms have schools implemented and how are students in special education included in them? |
What assessment programs are in place? Are students in special education included in school-wide assessments? |
What resources are available to and used by students in special education in the schools they attend? |
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Comparative and Explanatory Questions |
How do school characteristics vary among disability categories and for students with different demographic and household characteristics? |
How do the schools attended by students in special education compare with those attended by the general student population? |
How do school characteristics and policies relate to variations in individual students school programs? |
What school characteristics are associated with improved student outcomes? |
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