Inclusive School Development Research Articles

Doing difference differently? Exploring inclusion at an elementary school in Austria

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to highlight a paradox between inclusion/exclusion at the level of the organisation and classroom practices, as well as between general and disability/special educational needs (SEN)-specific approaches to diversity in the classroom. The authors recommend better alignment between school policies and teaching practices to offer all students an equal chance to benefit from inclusive pedagogies.Design/methodology/approachThis study analyses a school that has gained public reputation as an innovative, inclusive school in Austria. Applying a case study with an ethnographic methodological approach, the authors explore what strategies are implemented to become more inclusive at the level of school organisation and classroom practices? What are the pedagogical beliefs and actions relating to diversity that drive inclusive efforts? How is this school's general approach to diversity enacted with students with SEN?FindingsThe findings show that context-specific circumstances shape inclusive school development, which comes with a set of affordances and challenges. The authors argue that in this case, striving for inclusion indicated two ways of “doing difference differently”. First, the school has built on many cornerstones of inclusion when relating and responding to student diversity, that was remarkably different than in other mainstream schools in Austria. On the contrary, while creating new educational and pedagogical norms, it also recycled conventional segregating tendencies, and as such, reproduced hierarchised difference, but in other ways than schools typically do in mainstream schooling.Originality/valueThis school and its pedagogical mission have never been analysed through the rich data that two researchers were able to gather and work through.

Psychometric properties of the Italian adaptation of the short form of the Quality Scale of Inclusive School Development (QU!S-S)

ABSTRACT School inclusion is a reality in many countries around the world and most schools face the challenges of implementing inclusive education. A full inclusion model has been in place in Italy for five decades, but its actual application presents substantial differences between geographical areas, school levels, and individual schools. Thus, the availability of a comprehensive, psychometrically sound, and easy-to-complete measure of school inclusion that can be used for evaluation, screening, and research purposes is crucial. In this study, we investigated the psychometric properties of the Italian adaptation of the Quality Scale of Inclusive School Development-Short Form (QU!S-S) in a sample of 362 teachers from pre-school to 13th grade. The results supported the adequacy of the five-correlated-factor model of the original German version and the discriminant validity of the scales with respect to measures of professional self-efficacy and attitudes towards inclusive education. We also found different patterns of association of the scales with personal and job characteristics of the teachers. Overall, the results support the adequacy of the psychometric properties of the Italian version of the QU!S-S, which can be considered a valid and reliable tool for assessing the core dimensions of school inclusion in an Italian context.

Inclusive classroom climate development as the cornerstone of inclusive school building: review and perspectives.

Education institutional guidelines around the world agree that building more inclusive schools is a priority. The reality of school practice, however, belies this institutional will. To help fill the gap, this theoretical review documents the value that the construct of classroom climate brings to research and practice in terms of inclusive school development. The article firstly points out that the current main challenge is to develop Inclusive Mainstream Teaching (IMT) in diverse classrooms. Indeed, IMT is needed in all classrooms to guarantee the effectiveness of special accomodating measures in schools that are targeted at special education needs students. Intervening at classroom level is both a pragmatic and powerful way of developing inclusive schooling. However, developing IMT in the classroom remains a challenge for both teachers and researchers. Thus this review documents the central role that classroom climate should play in the development of IMT. More precisely, the factors of classroom climate that are associated with inclusive outcomes are identified. We also highlight how these factors and the measurements associated with them are efficient tools to guide IMT development. These measures are proximal, sensitive, complementary, and pragmatic indicators of effective IMT. Such indicators are very useful in helping research empirically document effective IMT, ensure that any small improvement is assessed, monitor teachers' progress, and assist their professional growth. Theoretically positioned as a mediator between inclusive teaching in mainstream classrooms and inclusive school outcomes, inclusive classroom climate is a tool that appears to be effective in supporting IMT development and, consequently, in the establishment of more inclusive schools.

Factors explaining teachers’ intention to implement inclusive practices in the classroom: Indications based on the theory of planned behaviour

In terms of inclusive school development, a question is what factors enhance successful implementation of inclusive practices. The present study applies the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB) as a whole and in differentiated components related to the teacher intentions to implement inclusive practices. Data were collected from 585 primary school teachers in Germany. Multi-level multivariate regression models were computed to test the correlation of attitudes, norms and perceived behavioural control with teacher intention to implement inclusion. All components investigated showed a significant relationship with teacher intention. Differentiated examination provides indications of opportunities for the development of an inclusive school system.

What makes a good school? Perspectives of students at inclusive secondary schools in Germany

ABSTRACT Despite a vast body of research on inclusive education, students’ perspectives and experiences of inclusive secondary schools have garnered little attention. Yet their perspectives and experiences are central to the development of inclusive schools. To investigate this, we conducted seven group discussions with ninth-year students at German inclusive secondary schools, asking them what makes a school a place where all students can learn well. Using reflexive thematic analysis, we developed three themes (community, justice, and school as a place to live), three cross-thematic areas (limits, teachers, and belonging), and two overarching central discourses (othering and submission to a meritocratic, non-participative school logic). In light of our findings, we argue that inclusive secondary schools still face major challenges vis-a-vis the continuing non-inclusiveness of societies and that students’ views can provide valuable insights into key success factors for inclusive secondary education.

The Price for Inclusion: Financial/Educational Dilemmas in the Inclusive School System in Denmark

This qualitative case study investigates the rationales, dilemmas, and shortcomings of the so-called “inclusion-promoting steering models” in which Danish schools have to pay a price for every student they cannot include in their school. For more than 10 years, the government has promoted such financial steering models and a rising number of municipalities have adopted the system, so that more than one-half of the existing Danish municipalities work with them. According to its advocates, this model supports the inclusion of students in schools in several direct ways. This case study shows that this model is based on some strong rationales, as it offers opportunities to promote the development of inclusive schools. However, the study also reveals that this comes at a price, as the model sometimes poses difficult dilemmas on school leaders and hinders the inclusion of all students.

Implementation of UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in public and private schools in three districts of Uganda.

The study was grounded in the recent developments of implementing the United Nations Convention on the Right of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) in schools in Uganda, leading to a renewed interest in the questionings about inclusive education. The inclusive approach was evaluated in terms of: (1) how public or private schools in Uganda understand inclusive education; (2) how schools implement inclusive education under the influence of the UN Convention; and (3) what determines the course of action and school routine of private and state schools. This exploratory qualitative research included interviews with six schools purposively selected in Mukono, Wakiso and Kampala districts of Central Uganda. The selected schools comprised three private and three state schools (i.e. representing primary and secondary schools and a vocational training institute). The research demonstrated that 'inclusive education practice' that was upheld by all the schools, was ironically stained with exclusion, for example, by non-admission of students with visual and hearing impairment, inaccessible physical environment, inadequate funding and separation of students according to abilities. However, whilst all schools followed the regular curriculum, some schools developed their own ways of teaching learners with diverse learning needs. Some schools in Uganda have developed meaningful approaches of including students with disabilities but there are still many challenges for many. Enforcing Uganda's disability policies adapted from the CRPDs could enable learners with disabilities to enjoy their legal rights. Since the intention of inclusion of students with disabilities stands in contrast to the reality of practice found in many schools, there seems to be a need to carry out regular assessments and measures of support for a sustainable inclusive school development.

INCLUSIVE EDUCATION AND INCLUSIVE SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT: A KEY-AREA FOR SUSTAINABILITY AND TEACHER SKILLS

This article constitutes a literature review on inclusive education for inclusive school development. Inclusive education supports a holistic and sustainable approach to learning for all and combines all fields of knowledge and experience. The focus of this paper is to explore the theoretical interrelation between inclusive education and sustainable philosophy. Prevention education can be a key educational process for the sustainability of inclusive education. The review examines issues, as it is necessary to develop data that will contribute to a more comprehensive description of these modern educational trends and will help to develop appropriate school materials on inclusive education and learning for all. The Index for Inclusion (Booth et al., 2006) is a set of materials to guide schools through the inclusive process in the 21st century with emphasis on the social model of disability. Further, the review examines to shed light on the skills of teachers. The purpose of this study is to review recent theoretical approaches and new data that would promote teacher education for inclusion.<p> </p><p><strong> Article visualizations:</strong></p><p><img src="/-counters-/edu_01/0597/a.php" alt="Hit counter" /></p>

Enhancing Schools' Development Activities on Inclusive Education Through In-service Training Course for School Teams: A Case Study.

Most countries face the challenge of reconstructing their education systems to ensure equitable quality education for all children in inclusive settings. This challenge is also relevant in Estonia, the context of this study. A long-term in-service training course for school teams (school leaders, support specialists, and teachers) was developed and implemented in Estonia. The main goal of the training course was to develop attitudes, skills, and knowledge of school staff about the concept and meaning of inclusive education (IE) and the effective implementation through inclusive school development strategies. The aim of the current study was to find out how the in-service training course for school teams influences system-wide changes in the implementation of IE at the school level and what factors affect it. Purposeful sampling (two schools) was used, and the qualitative thematic case study research method was chosen to find answers to the research questions. Data were collected from school policy documents, homework assignments of the training course, semi-structured interviews in the middle and at the end of the training course, open-ended questionnaires at the end of the training course, and researcher diary. The results showed that the in-service training course for school teams enhanced cultural and structural changes at the school level. These changes were influenced by factors such as leadership, collaboration, commitment, and contribution of different parties, system-wide approach, resources, and external expertise. The implications of these findings are discussed further in the paper.

Reconstructing Students’ Appropriation of Space in Inclusive Schools in Austria and Germany Using Bourdieu’s Theory of Social Space

ABSTRACT In Germany and Austria, the UN-CRPD (2006) launched a series of legal developments towards inclusive education at different levels of the education system. This has required federal states to engage in a transformation of school systems and practices in order to foster all learners’ participation in a comprehensive, inclusive school development process [Slee, Roger, and Gaby Weiner. 2011. “Education Reform and Reconstruction as a Challenge to Research Genres: Reconsidering School Effectiveness Research and Inclusive Schooling.” School Effectiveness and School Improvement: An International Journal of Research, Policy and Practice 12 (1): 83–98; Florian, Lani, and Mhairi Beaton. 2018. “Inclusive Pedagogy in Action: Getting it Right for Every Child.” International Journal of Inclusive Education 22 (8): 870–884]. While educational research on practices in inclusive schools mainly focuses on teachers and (para)professionals, students’ (spatial) practices and perspectives often remain hidden. However, students are active producers of social (and spatial) practices within educational organisations. Therefore, this article endeavours to explore and understand students’ appropriation of space in inclusive schools using reconstruction as a method of social research. It focuses on spatial practices by students in German and Austrian inclusive schools using data from the qualitative research project ‘Students’ perspectives on Assistance’ (ASP). The study was conducted in the federal states of Upper Austria (Austria) and Baden-Württemberg (Germany) and encompassed audio-voice tours, group discussions as well as interviews with students. The praxeological methodology of the documentary method of text interpretation was used to analyse students’ spatial practices. The results show that – translating inclusive education spatially – flexibilised ‘special spaces’ are produced and appropriated by students within inclusive schools.

Cross-professional collaboration and inclusive school development in Denmark

ABSTRACT The paper is based on a study of cross-professional collaboration in Denmark and its impact on inclusive school development. The study takes its starting point in the understanding that all kinds of schools constitute a social practice, which is created through inclusion and exclusion processes, and characterised by both individuality and diversity, collectivity and homogeneity. Hence, we argue that inclusion is a right and an obligation for students with and without special needs, and that inclusive education is primarily a matter of supporting all students in learning to be participants in learning activities and social life at school. It is also a matter of transforming the social structure so as to displace the border between inclusion and exclusion to better ensure equity for all students. Based on an analysis of how collaborative processes take place in a school practice, the present study offers a complex and nuanced understanding of cross-professional collaboration, influenced by many different mechanisms and factors that interact and affect each other. The study concludes that collaborative processes do not have any real impact on inclusive school development. The tendency is to focus on the student’s deficits, compensation, and treatment.

Las nuevas tecnologías en la educación superior, una oportunidad

One of the main challenges facing education systems today is related to the development of inclusive schools that welcome and respond to the diversity of students and is probably a key factor in moving towards quality education that is relevant to all people and not just to certain social groups.

A New School With Spaces Inclusive Pedagogics

The current public policies in education matters of the Chilean State have declared within their focus the educational inclusion and a new public quality education that offers the best opportunities to all its inhabitants, especially to the most vulnerable socially, culturally and economically. In this way, it takes the international commitment mandated by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular the Sustainable Development Goal 4, whose objective is to guarantee an inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote opportunities of permanent learning for all. The objective of this investigation considers studying the attitudes of pedagogy students to promote the inclusive school's development. It is necessary, therefore, to know what they think and feel one of their main actors that will lead these changes, future teachers. This study was developed under a quantitative, multivariate, descriptive and correlational model of the phenomenon based on the general perceptions of the sample according to the studied construct. The data collection was carried out through the adaptation to the Chilean reality of the "Questionnaire for future Secondary Education teachers about perceptions of attention to diversity" (Colmenero & Pegalajar , 2015). The results show a positive perception towards inclusion of students, but it is necessary materialized them in a better initial teacher training and in real inclusion practices.

A New School with Spaces Inclusive Pedagogics

The current public policies in education matters of the Chilean State have declared within their focus the educational inclusion and a new public quality education that offers the best opportunities to all its inhabitants, especially to the most vulnerable socially, culturally and economically. In this way, it takes the international commitment mandated by the United Nations in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, in particular the Sustainable Development Goal 4, whose objective is to guarantee an inclusive and equitable quality education and to promote opportunities of permanent learning for all. The objective of this investigation considers studying the attitudes of pedagogy students to promote the inclusive school's development. It is necessary, therefore, to know what they think and feel one of their main actors that will lead these changes, future teachers. This study was developed under a quantitative, multivariate, descriptive and correlational model of the phenomenon based on the general perceptions of the sample according to the studied construct. The data collection was carried out through the adaptation to the Chilean reality of the “Questionnaire for future Secondary Education teachers about perceptions of attention to diversity” (Colmenero & Pegalajar, 2015). The results show a positive perception towards inclusion of students, but it is necessary materialized them in a better initial teacher training and in real inclusion practices.

Assessment of the quality of inclusive schools A short form of the quality scale of inclusive school development (QU!S-S) – reliability, factorial structure and measurement invariance

ABSTRACT Many schools worldwide are facing the challenges of implementing inclusive education into their everyday lives. In order for this to succeed, meaningful measures are needed to evaluate concepts, instructional quality and learning. This paper addresses the development of an instrument for the self-evaluation of schools on behalf of the quality of inclusion, the Quality Scale of Inclusive School Development-short form (QU!S-S). The instrument is based upon the theory of ecological environment of students in a school development model for inclusive schools and addresses five levels of school development as specific but connected dimensions. The levels are ‘Students and their individual needs’, ‘Inclusive Instruction’, ‘Multiprofessional Cooperation’, ‘Inclusive School Concept and School Life’ and ‘External Support and Communal Networking’. The factorial structure is confirmed and successfully tested for measurement invariance between regular school teachers and teachers with duties in special education or psychology as well as primary and secondary schools. Intercorrelations between attitudes toward inclusion and the assessed dimensions are used to underline the appropriateness of the QU!S-S. It is discussed that the parsimonious linkage of different levels of inclusive school quality can establish a basis for discussion on school development.

Desafíos de la Educación Especial en el desarrollo de escuelas inclusivas

Todos los países miembros de las Naciones Unidas, en el año 2015, adoptaron la Agenda 2030 para el Desarrollo Sostenible. El objetivo 4 consiste en garantizar una educación inclusiva, equitativa y de calidad y promover oportunidades de aprendizaje durante toda la vida para todos. En este artículo, se aborda el concepto de educación inclusiva que conlleva la equidad y la calidad y se exponen seis lecciones aprendidas en el contexto internacional sobre el desarrollo de escuelas inclusivas. Asimismo, se reflexiona en poblaciones específicas como los estudiantes con discapacidad y sus necesidades educativas, que tradicionalmente se ha abordado desde la Educación Especial. Finaliza con una propuesta de transformación de la Educación Especial acorde a los principios de la Educación Inclusiva.

Segregated education as a challenge to inclusive processes: a total population study of Swedish teachers’ views on education for pupils with intellectual disability

ABSTRACT Many pupils with disabilities receive schooling in segregated contexts, such as special classes or special schools. Furthermore, the percentage of pupils educated in segregated settings has increased in many European countries. Studies suggest that there is high commitment to the general ideology of inclusive education among teachers in ‘regular’ education in many countries. This survey study investigates the views of teachers in segregated types of school about education. A questionnaire was sent out, in 2016, to all Swedish teachers (N = 2871, response rate 57.7%) working full time in special classes for pupils with intellectual disability (ID). On a general level results show that there is a strong commitment to preserving a segregated school setting for pupils with ID, a limited desire to cooperate with colleagues from ‘regular schools’ and a view that schooling and teaching are not quite compatible with the idea of inclusive education. The results highlight the importance of investigating processes of resistance within segregated schools to the development of inclusive schools and education systems. We argue that, while research and debate about inclusive education are important, both are insufficient without analyses of existing types of segregated schooling.

Schulentwicklung im Spannungsfeld zwischen gesellschaftlichen und individuellen Anforderungen

Lehrkräfte an deutschen Schulen werden mit der bildungspolitischen Forderung nach gleichberechtigter Teilhabe aller Schüler*innen nicht nur mit Blick auf die Gestaltung ihres Kerngeschäfts Unterricht vor enorme Herausforderungen gestellt. Inklusion rückt auch als organisationale und prozessuale Aufgabe der Schulentwicklung in den Verantwortungsbereich aller schulischen Akteure*innen. Noch immer mangelt es an wissenschaftlich begleiteten und aufeinander bezogenen Strukturen und Prozessen, die Bedarfe der Schulen analysieren, Unterstützungsmaßnahmen bestimmen und in konkrete Handlungen übersetzen. Ein vielversprechendes Gestaltungsmodell für Schulentwicklung, so die Erkenntnisse des laufenden Projektes »SING – Schule inklusiv gestalten. Entwicklung fachdidaktischer und organisatorischer Strukturen einer inklusiven Schule«, stellt die Balanced Scorecard (BSC) dar. Die aus der Unternehmungsführung stammende Managementmethode findet u.a. bereits im Non-Profit Bereich Anwendung. Für den schulischen Bereich wurde sie adaptiert und zu einer »strategischen Landkarte inklusiver Schulentwicklung« weiterentwickelt, um inklusive Schulentwicklungsprozesse systematisch zu unterstützen und zu gestalten. Der Beitrag stellt erste Einblicke in die laufende Projektarbeit bereit, indem eruierte Dimensionen inklusiver Handlungsfelder an Schulen skizziert werden. Diese werden im Rahmen eines groß angelegten Mixed-Method-Designs an fünf verschiedenen Pilotschulen wissenschaftlich evaluiert.

Inclusive Inquiry: Student–teacher dialogue as a means of promoting inclusion in schools

This article traces the development of Inclusive Inquiry, a new approach to the promotion of inclusion in schools. It explains how this builds on a programme of research carried out by the authors over a period of 20 years. Central to the approach is dialogue amongst teachers and their students about how to make lessons more inclusive. This involves children becoming researchers who learn how to use research techniques to gather the views of their classmates, as well as observing lessons. The approach was refined as a result of a 3‐year action research study carried out with a network of eight secondary schools, in three European countries. It was then trialled in 30 primary schools, in five European countries. In each country a team of university researchers supported, recorded and analysed the action research as it occurred, using observations, interviews and surveys. The article provides an analysis of the impact on the thinking and practices of teachers, and on the attitudes and engagement of students in learning. It is argued that Inclusive Inquiry is an approach that facilitates dialogues that can lead to transformations of practices and thinking, and the development of inclusive schools. Some of the challenges involved in using the approach in schools are identified.

The collaborative practice of inclusion and exclusion

ABSTRACTThe educational field is traditionally characterized by a distinction between general and special education in educational practice, theory and research. Especially in cross-professional collaborative processes related to inclusion, it becomes evident that the professionals represent different perspectives and positions with different roles, functions and main goals.Based on a research project in Denmark which examines how the collaboration of professionals constitutes in- and exclusion processes, we compare different understandings of aims and problems in the work with inclusion in collaborative school practice with the current models of inclusive education and special education represented in international literature. Our findings show that understandings of problems related to inclusive school development are mainly directed towards strategies targeting and compensating the needs of the student but seldom involve changing the professional practice of teachers and other educators, including their collaboration. Based on this, we argue – and present a framework to support – that inclusive school development involves a process of transforming general and special education into inclusive education, which requires changes in content, teaching methods, approaches, structures, and strategies in education. In order to succeed, classroom practice is only one sub-practice among many sub-practices in a school practice that needs to be transformed.