Academic achievement for students with and without disabilities in co-taught classrooms: A meta-analysis

Abstract

This meta-analysis examined achievement of students with and without disabilities in co-taught compared to solo-taught general education classes. Using eight databases and six terms, a systematic search of peer-reviewed and gray literatures was conducted. From 99 studies about co-taught students’ achievement, 28 studies met eligibility criteria, including disaggregated data for 21,717 students. Achievement was not significantly higher for students with or without disabilities in co-taught classes. The combined negative effect regarding co-teaching was weak, implying that the achievement of students in co-taught settings did not vary significantly from that of students in solo-taught ones. The sub-group and moderator analyses revealed differences regarding the type of assessment and the meta-analyzed studies’ publication year. Study quality data regarding descriptions of co-teaching, fidelity, and group assignment highlight the need for more rigorously designed and implemented studies. Results are discussed in relation to the prevalence of co-teaching, considering additional factors beyond academic achievement.