Hot off the Press- Inclusive education and graduation rates

HOT OFF THE PRESS: Research just published on inclusive education- graduation rates 62% higher for students in special education when they are educated in inclusive (in "typical" general education classroom with peers with and without disability labels) versus self-contained/segregated classroom (only with peers with disability labels).

Inclusion and Graduation Rates: What Are the Outcomes?Goodman, Hazelkorn, Bucholz, Duffy, and Kitta (2011)
Journal of Disability Policy Studies 21(4) 241–252

Abstract-
In response to federal and state mandates, students with disabilities increasingly are being educated in more inclusive settings. Although accountability related to state curriculum standards and standardized test scores is important, graduation rates may be the critical factor in deciding whether current educational policy is resulting in successful outcomes for students. This study examined the records of 67,749 students with mild disabilities in Georgia during a 6-year period to determine the effects of inclusion (i.e., the amount of time spent in general education classrooms) on graduation rates.

Results indicated a 62% increase in the percentage rate in inclusion for students with mild disabilities, while graduation rates for students with mild disabilities have remained stable (+0.4%) at less than 30%.

AND THAT FOLKS, is why I do what I do!