Managing the mainstream: an analysis of teacher attitudes and student performance in mainstream high school programs.

Abstract

Four studies were undertaken in 12 urban high schools to explore the accommodative power of mainstream secondary schools and the extent to which teacher attitudes and student behaviors contributed to failure of learning disabled students in regular high school classes. Findings suggest that mainstream teachers recognize the low achievement of LD students but do very little that is different instructionaily when these students are assigned to regular-content classes. The one adjustment that is commonly made is to lower grading standards so that LD students have a good chance of passing the course. In fact, most LD students received passing grades in most of their mainstream courses and most failing grades were in courses in which attendance records were extremely poor.