Special Education and School Reform in the United States and Britain


Book Description

This book is about how special education policy and practice is being negotiated within the context of educational reform in two countries. The political climate of recent years in both Britain and the USA led to many changes along similar lines, with a move towards placing greater power and choice in the hands of those individuals with special educational needs. Each chapter provides an overview and comparative analysis of the origins and evolution of specific educational reforms in the USA and the UK. The themes explored include: *providing parents with greater choice *decentralising decision making *making the whole curriculum available to all *accountability *funding the necessary changes.




Special Education and School Reform in the United States and Britain


Book Description

This book is about how special education policy and practice is being negotiated within the context of educational reform in two countries. The political climate of recent years in both Britain and the USA led to many changes along similar lines, with a move towards placing greater power and choice in the hands of those individuals with special educational needs. Each chapter provides an overview and comparative analysis of the origins and evolution of specific educational reforms in the USA and the UK. The themes explored include: *providing parents with greater choice *decentralising decision making *making the whole curriculum available to all *accountability *funding the necessary changes.




Standards and Special Education Needs


Book Description

Amidst all of the bureaucracy and policy concerning special educational needs (SEN), it is easy to lose sight of the role of standards in the education of pupils with SEN. This book places the role of standards at the centre of the stage, showing:- what is meant by standards- how they are measured- how they can be improved- what pitfalls need to be avoidedTopics include: legisaltion; identification of SEN; target settting; benchmarking; "value added"; inclusive education; and resources. The book focuses on UK education systmes but includes frequent and sustained comparison with USA. There are also references to Canada, New Zealand and South Africa.




Resolving Disputes about Educational Provision


Book Description

With contributions by recognised experts in the field of education law, this book is a comparative study of the resolution of special education disputes, including via mediation. It analyses the varying approaches in England, Scotland, the US and the Netherlands and addresses major questions of dispute resolution, redress, judicial and non-judicial approaches and the protection of citizens' rights. The first review of mediation in citizen v. state disputes outside the context of the courts, this topical book also incorporates findings from a recent ESRC study into dispute resolution in special educational needs cases. It will not only be of interest to those concerned with education issues but also those interested in administrative justice, especially the role of mediation generally




The SAGE Handbook of Special Education


Book Description

The second edition of The SAGE Handbook of Special Education provides a comprehensive overview of special education, offering a wide range of views on key issues from all over the world. The contributors bring together up-to-date theory, research and innovations in practice, with an emphasis on future directions for the role of special education in a global context of inclusion. This brand new edition features: " New chapters on families, interagency collaboration and issues of lifelong learning " The UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities " Policy reform proposals " Equity and social justice in education " The impact of new thinking on assessment " Issues and developments in classification " The preparation and qualifications that teachers need The Handbook′s breadth, clarity and academic rigour will make it essential reading for researchers and postgraduate students, and also for practitioners, teachers, school managers and administrators.




Barriers to Inclusion


Book Description

Barriers to Inclusion offers a comparative and historical account of the rise of special education over the twentieth century in the United States and Germany. This institutional analysis demonstrates how categorical boundaries, professional groups, social movements, and education and social policies shaped the schooling of children and youth with disabilities. It traces the evolution of special education classification, explores growing special education organizations, and examines students' learning opportunities and educational attainments. Highlighting cross-national differences over time, the author also investigates demographic and geographic variability within the federal democracies, especially in segregation and inclusion rates of disabled and disadvantaged children. Germany's elaborate system of segregated special school types contrasts with diverse American special education classrooms mainly within regular schools. Joining historical case studies with empirical indicators, this book reveals persistent barriers to school integration as well as factors that facilitate inclusive education reform in both societies.







Global Pedagogies


Book Description

Global Pedagogies: Schooling for the Future, which is the twelfth volume in the 12-volume book series Globalisation, Comparative Education and Policy Research, presents scholarly research on major discourses in comparative education research with reference to globalisation, educational policy and classroom pedagogy. It is a sourcebook of ideas for researchers, practitioners and policy makers in education, globalisation, global pedagogies and schooling for the future around the world. The aim of the book is to provide an easily accessible, practical yet scholarly source of information about the international concern in the field of globalisation, global pedagogies, and educational transformation. Readers will find here the very latest thinking on globalisation, global pedagogies and educational transformation in the context of global culture. It offers a timely overview of current issues affecting discourses pertaining to global pedagogies and policy research in the global culture. It provides directions in education, and policy research, relevant to transformational educational reforms in the 21st century. The book critically examines the overall interplay between comparative education discourses, globalisation, and education. It draws upon recent studies in the areas of globalisation, equity, social justice, and the role of the State. It explores conceptual frameworks and methodological approaches applicable in the research covering the State, globalisation, equity, and education. It demonstrates the neo-liberal ideological imperatives of education and policy reforms, and illustrates the way the relationship between the State and education policy affects current models and trends in education reforms and schooling globally. Various book chapters critique the dominant discourses and debates pertaining to comparative education discourses and the newly constructed and re-invented models of neo-liberal ideology in education. Using a number of diverse paradigms in comparative education research, ranging from critical theory to globalisation, the authors, by focusing on globalisation, ideology and democracy, attempt to examine critically both the reasons and outcomes of education reforms, policy change and transformation and provide a more informed critique on the Western-driven models of accountability, quality and school effectiveness. The book draws upon recent studies in the areas of equity, cultural capital and dominant ideologies in education.




Special Educational Needs, Inclusion and Diversity


Book Description

Special Educational Needs, Inclusion and Diversity is the definitive handbook for student teachers, newly qualified teachers, trainee educational psychologists, SENCO's and SEN Specialist Teachers.




Education, Law and Diversity


Book Description

Education is fundamentally concerned with realising the potential of every child, but an increasing social diversity presents enormous challenges for the state in terms of its commitment to providing an appropriate education for all. Factors such as ethnicity, disability and material deprivation are associated with inequality, social exclusion and the risk of low educational attainment. Diversity also reflects divergent cultural values and norms. In responding to the challenges posed by diversity, public education authorities are to some extent constrained by individual or group rights. This book examines the nature of these rights, including those under the European Convention on Human Rights, and the ways and contexts in which they operate. Their social effects are also considered. Areas discussed include the curriculum, special educational needs and choice of school. A key theme in the book is the promotion and enforcement of equal access to education, including higher education. Issues of multiculturalism, the social integration of minorities, religion in education and the recognition of children's independent rights are among those that are also discussed. The book centres on England and Wales and covers the evolving legislative framework, including the Education and Inspections Bill 2006, but relevant legal developments in other states are also highlighted.