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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