Inclusive Educational Administration

The belief that regular and special education administrators should work together to create and maintain successful education programs for all students is not new, nor is the assumption that administrator preparation programs should foster the development of an inclusive approach—yet this critical educational partnership has not reached its full potential. Despite the lack of agreement within the federal legislative branch on exactly what should be changed within our education system, some promising points of consensus have emerged: competitive grants, college and career readiness, multi-tiered systems of support, common core standards, a rewards-based (rather than punitive) system for school improvement, the critical role of effective teachers and principals, increased school choice options, and evidence-based learning strategies, particularly in high-need schools. The third edition stresses the importance of these key points. Each chapter features case studies that simulate real-life situations readers are likely to encounter in their careers as administrators. Within the safety of the classroom, they will rehearse controversial scenarios involving inclusive school governance, school reform, identification and placement, conflict resolution, program evaluation, fiscal issues, transportation, and discipline. Enhanced practice situations and role-play exercises emphasize the special education administrator’s role in resolving difficult situations. The case-study approach is an effective learning tool for aspiring special and regular education administrators and instructors alike, fostering enthusiastic classroom discussion and critical thinking about potential solutions to today’s complex problems in inclusive educational administration.

"Regular and special education administrators regularly encounter problems when attempting to work together to create and maintain successful special education programs. This updated and improved second edition seeks to overcome this obstacle by training readers in shared problem solving. Each chapter focuses on a specific issue followed by real-life case studies and questions designed to encourage inclusive thinking and discussion within a cohort. These real-life case studies are an ideal way to hone problem-solving skills in the safety of the classroom and prepare for real-world situations."--BOOK JACKET.

This book answers two questions: What does the implementation of inclusive education require of a system of education and all parts of the system? How do various parts of the education system act on their commitment to inclusive educational practice? Decades after major legislation (i.e., the Civil Rights Act, the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, and the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) made high-quality education a fundamental right for all children in the United States, the dream of diverse, inclusive, democratic schooling has yet to be realized. Nevertheless, some classrooms, schools, districts, states, and universities have made progress. Inclusive Education: A Systematic Perspective explores the theoretical implications of inclusive practice as well as illustrative case studies and evaluation findings from states, educator preparation programs, districts, and schools that have reframed their work around the principles of inclusive practice. Whether these organizations position the work as “social justice education,” “culturally responsive teaching,” or “inclusion,” their efforts lead in the same direction—toward higher quality and more equitable education for all. The chapters will be relevant to graduate students, faculty members, and education leaders, at all levels, who seek a comprehensive overview of the commitment and practice of “inclusive education”. Chapters vary in their approaches to the topic, some presenting theoretical underpinnings, others describing practices or programs at particular sites, others reporting findings from empirical studies, and edited interviews with state and district leaders of inclusive-education initiatives. The book explores why inclusion is important and how it can be accomplished.

This book supports the professional learning of school principals, and those who aspire to be such, in development of their skills and knowledge around fostering inclusive schools for students with special education needs. The book includes 27 case stories that are based on research with school principals. Each case includes expert commentaries and resources to support principals and emerging leaders as they consider how to effectively support students with special education needs in inclusive schools. Its premise is based on the recognition that there are increasing numbers of students with disabilities and special education needs in neighbourhood schools. Principals need to develop new competencies to navigate the challenges, and benefits, of including students with special education needs into inclusive classroom settings. The book provides opportunities to build leadership competencies by considering a diversity of cases related to inclusive leadership. The cases in the book are divided among nine sections addressing the following areas: transitions, early years, elementary school cases, secondary school cases, community supports, school board/district supports, school teams, complex cases, and cases specific to new teachers. Seven cross-cutting themes are addressed in these cases including: communication, parents/caregivers, agency/efficacy, collaboration, relationships/trust, legal, and advocacy.

Inclusive Leadership draws on James Ryan's groundbreaking research to present a powerful new idea - leadership as an intentionally inclusive practice that values all cultures and types of students in a school. This important book shows that inclusion must encompass all types of difference in students, teachers, and parents - from the single mother to the new immigrant, from the parents working night jobs, to the homeless child, to issues of race, religion, gender, and sexual orientation. In four fascinating chapters, James Ryan sketches out the dimensions of exclusion, analyzes the research on inclusive leadership, and offers practical suggestions for promoting and practicing inclusive leadership. This book is a volume in the Jossey-Bass Leadership Library in Education—a series designed to meet the demand for new ideas and insights about leadership in schools.

′This book is about putting the theory of effective management and leadership into practice in the constantly changing context of meeting the complex needs of children and young people...It is an excellent resource for those who work in, or who aspire to work in, children′s services, education or multidisciplinary settings, at managerial or leadership level′ - British Journal of Special Education This book is a guide to special and inclusive education and provides a comprehensive overview of this complex field. The author examines context, policy and practice, and shows how to successfully navigate the managerial challenges involved, while contributing to the way forward through leadership in a diverse field. The author considers the present inclusion imperative with its implications for strategic leadership, planning and provision. He presents an inclusive style of leadership for an integrative management of individual differences in education, as well as a critical review of managing inclusive learning and teaching in school contexts. Written for aspiring and practising school leaders, this book is essential for those with responsibility for inclusion, school leaders in special schools, SENCOs, SEN advisors, and students on SEN management CPD or NPQH courses.

Inclusion is increasingly becoming one of the policy drivers shaping educational discourse and practice. What constitutes the term “inclusion” itself and how ideas derived from the different perspectives on inclusion impact school leadership practice point to a highly contested field of enquiry. Originally embedded in discourse relating to special education, ideas relating to inclusion are attracting much broader appeal within system reforms in many jurisdictions. This book seeks to keep the consideration of inclusion firmly in its broader context and to decouple it from the discourse relating to students with special educational/additional needs. This allows the authors to position their contributions more explicitly within discourses that draw on difference and diversity as unavoidable features of schools. Within this collection we address the current political dogmas in many countries that take a purely rational, managerial approach to leadership, arguing that this is not contributing to inclusion in schools. In doing this, the book seeks to shape current discourses on leadership by exploring perspectives which are likely to enhance our understanding of inclusion. Tolerance, respect, listening, clarifying language, being comfortable with differences and ambiguity and articulating and challenging the rationale behind “the way we do things around here” are key aspects of inclusive leadership, and also fundamental imperatives for writing this book. It will be useful to those in education who are engaged in further academic study in education or in reflective practice and to anyone taking advanced programmes in educational leadership and management. The international perspectives on the issue of inclusion informing this book ensure that this book will be essential for those engaged in a comparative analysis of leadership practice in different contexts or those concerned with the complexity of ensuring inclusive models of education.

This book brings together for the first time research informing leadership practice in special education from preschool through transition into post-secondary settings. It provides comprehensive coverage of 1) disability policy 2) leadership knowledge, 3) school reform, and 4) effective educational leadership practices. Broader in scope than previous books, it provides in-depth analysis by prominent scholars from across the disciplines of both general and special education leadership. Coverage includes historical roots, policy and legal perspectives, and content supporting collaborative and instructional leadership that support the administration of special education. Comprehensive – This is the first book to integrate the knowledge bases of special education and educational leadership as these fields impact school improvement and the performance of students with disabilities. Chapter Structure – Chapters provide a review of the knowledge base as well as recommendations for special education leadership and future research. Multicultural Focus – Addressing special education leadership within the context of a multicultural society, chapters incorporate content related to the diversity of families, teachers, and students. Expertise – Chapter authors have made significant contributions to the knowledge base in their specific areas of study such as educational policy, special education law and finance, school reform,, organizational management, and instructional leadership. This book is a reference volume for scholars, leaders, and policy makers and a textbook for graduate courses in special education, educational administration, and policy studies.

The cases are good for in-class use. The length of these cases makes it easy to assign them to be read during class.—Roger Shouse, The Pennsylvania State University DIVERSITY SCHOOL IMPROVEMENT LIMITED RESOURCES Understanding issues faced by today′s school leaders... Authors David L. Gray and Agnes E. Smith have written a book of cases to give prospective school leaders opportunities to resolve complex issues in K–12 school settings through reflective questions, activities, and authentic assessment tools for skill development.