Exceptional Children, Ahead of Print.
The inclusion of students with disabilities with special education services into general education classes has been an integral part of education for over 3 decades. It is a worldwide movement that continues to grow. Yet, some Special Education researchers remain highly critical, even cynical, of inclusion, despite decades of research that have refined school and classroom-based practices so that the majority of students with disabilities, with few exceptions, can achieve inclusion. In this paper we emphasize the importance of maintaining an optimistic focus on inclusive education by (1) foregrounding the thinking of activists within the Disability Rights Movement and more recent disability collectives that undergird theories of disability justice and inclusion; (2) centering intersectional experiences of disability; (3) clarifying the intentions of inclusion and dispelling some lingering myths; and (4) describing ways that inclusive classrooms can best serve students with mild to complex and multiple support needs. We conclude with a request to our field to reflect upon and consider Special Education's evolving role in ongoing collaborative development of inclusive education.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 2, Page 121-122, January 2025.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 2, Page 144-165, January 2025.
Teachers of color are critical for improving students’ educational experiences and outcomes, especially for students of color. Yet, more than 80% of special education teachers (SETs) in U.S. public schools are white. Thus, we examined how the ethnoracial diversity of the SET workforce changed over time, from 2012–2021, in relation to the increasingly ethnoracially diverse population of students with disabilities. Analyzing multiple waves of several nationally representative datasets, we found that any growth in the number of SETs of color nationally is wholly insufficient to keep pace with growth in the population of students of color with disabilities. With growing ethnoracial disparities between the SET workforce and the population of students with disabilities, race-evasive recruitment and retention initiatives are not justifiable. Instead, coordinated, race-conscious policies and practices are needed across policy, teacher education, and in-service school districts, to foster a SET workforce that is representative of the student population.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 2, Page 166-186, January 2025.
Paraeducators are critically important members of school communities, but there is little statewide research on the characteristics of paraeducators. We therefore use over 25 years of longitudinal data from Washington state to provide a descriptive portrait of the paraeducator workforce. Paraeducators are more racially and ethnically diverse than special education teachers, particularly in the last decade, and tend to be less experienced. Their full-time salaries are about half of the average for special education teachers. Finally, and perhaps most importantly, paraeducator attrition rates from the state's workforce have increased dramatically over time; for example, the paraeducator attrition rate after the 2021–2022 school year (23%) was over twice as high as the that in the 2008–2009 school year (8%). These findings have implications for how policymakers and school leaders should approach decision-making related to the paraeducator workforce, as well as how researchers might approach further research with this group of educators.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 2, Page 123-143, January 2025.
How do special education-related professionals parenting children with disabilities experience the special education system? This qualitative exploratory study delves into the experiences of 25 mother-educators who are special education-related professionals navigating the special education system for their children with disabilities. Through thematic analysis, our findings elucidate how the special education system perpetuates inequitable practices. The study describes four central themes: (1) the nuanced role of mother-educators’ expertise, (2) the capacity and willingness of school staff to serve children with disabilities, (3) the inherent inequalities within the special education system, and (4) the role of advocacy. Most of these mother-educators could occasionally leverage social, cultural, and economic capital to advocate and secure services for their children. However, despite their ability to leverage such resources and extensive knowledge about their children and the special education system, these mother-educators encountered numerous challenges in advocating for and securing services for their children. We discuss the implications of our findings for federal mandates on family engagement and caution against the deficit-based nature of special education. Furthermore, we propose recommendations for fostering more equitable approaches within the system. This study underscores the need for systemic changes to ensure that all children with disabilities receive the support and services they deserve.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 2, Page 187-210, January 2025.
In the U.S. education system, students of color experience multiple forms of marginalization at the intersection of markers of difference. These injustices manifest in multiple forms, such as higher rates of inappropriate referrals to special education, misidentification, conferring stigmatizing labels, and subsequently placing students of color in more segregated spaces. To combat this persistent racial injustice within special education practices and programs, policymakers have formulated regulations under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) aimed at ensuring equal educational opportunities and outcomes for students of color. In particular, the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs introduced 20 State Performance Plan and Annual Performance Report (SPP/APR) indicators in 2004 to monitor states' implementation of IDEA. Building upon an interdisciplinary and intersectional lens informed by the cultural historical approach to disability, critical policy analysis in education, and disability critical race theory, this systematic literature review synthesizes 19 studies investigating local policy actors’ enactment of IDEA policies related to SPP/APR indicators, which were designed to address racial inequities in special education. The findings reveal that local policy actors’ interpretations, negotiations, and implementations of equity-intended special education policies are intricately tied to the situated cultural and political dynamics, making the process multifaceted and deeply contextual.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 2, Page 211-228, January 2025.
Sustained implementation of effective behavior support systems and practices is critical for improving academic and behavior outcomes for students with and without disabilities. Although implementation studies have identified variables facilitating sustained implementation of Tier 1 behavior support systems in schools, little research exists examining Tier 2 and 3 behavior support systems. The purpose of this 5-year prospective study was to identify practice, school, and district variables facilitating sustained implementation of Tiers 2 and 3 behavior support systems in schools. The sample included 646 schools implementing positive behavioral interventions and supports (PBIS) across 23 U.S. states. Using structural equation modeling, we found several key variables to be predictive of sustained implementation (sustained implementation and implementation quality) of Tier 2 (Tiers 1 and 2 fidelity in Year 1 and a general Tiers 2 and 3 sustainability factor) and Tier 3 behavior support systems (Tier 1 and Tier 3 fidelity in Year 1 and a general Tiers 2 and 3 sustainability factor). Implications for how district and school leadership teams can improve sustained implementation of Tiers 2 and 3 behavior support systems are discussed.

Exceptional Children, Volume 90, Issue 4, Page 353-360, July 2024.

Exceptional Children, Volume 90, Issue 4, Page 361-381, July 2024.
Replications provide credibility by demonstrating under what conditions experimental findings can be repeated, the premise behind evidence-based practices. Replications in single-case research also investigate generalization of findings across groups. For groups with high variability, such as individuals with autism, assumptions of generalizability should be based on learners who are similar in critical ways. The purpose of this study was to use Coyne et al.'s framework for replication and the next generation guidelines for single-case research to extend understanding of “for whom” and “under what conditions” modified schema-based instruction (an established evidence-based practice for individuals with autism) is effective. In this distal conceptual replication of Root et al., contextual and instructional variables of theoretical and practical importance were intentionally manipulated or maintained and reported to model transparency and support replicability. Four high school students receiving special education under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act category of autism were taught mathematical and social problem-solving behaviors within the context of percentage-of-change word problems. Researchers used modified schema-based instruction and augmented reality in a one-on-one setting and assessed generalization to purchasing in the food court of a mall biweekly. We frame our discussion around the recommendations for replication research from Coyne et al. and recommendations for single-case research from Ledford et al., concluding with suggestions for future replications that use single-case research designs.

Exceptional Children, Volume 90, Issue 4, Page 382-397, July 2024.
Restraint and seclusion (R/S) are practices employed by schools to address severe student behavior. Although the use of R/S has been shown to have harmful impact for students, staff, and schools, there is no federal law that addresses its use in schools. A lack of a universal approach leaves each state to determine its own legislation and policy. The current study seeks to extend previous research efforts on state policy guidance and legislation reviews on the use of R/S by reporting on key similarities and differences across states policy guidance and legislation. Specifically, policy guidance and legislation on the school use of R/S are reviewed from the U.S. states and territories, including Washington, D.C.; Puerto Rico; Guam; and the Virgin Islands. Most states and territories were found to have either legislation or policy guidance on the use of R/S in schools. However, there are many differences across the states, including on its use and reporting for students with disabilities. Findings are also compared with the proposed federal bill Keeping All Students Safe Act. Finally, given the lack of passage of the federal law, highlights and recommendations are provided for state leaders on considerations for improvement as R/S remains a state regulated educational issue.

Exceptional Children, Volume 90, Issue 4, Page 398-421, July 2024.
Despite growing calls to increase diversity in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, students with learning disabilities (SWLDs) remain underrepresented in STEM at the postsecondary level. Considering this call for increased diversity as a means to expand and strengthen STEM success, we used the High School Longitudinal Study of 2009 to explore how participation in engineering career and technical education (E-CTE) links to postsecondary educational outcomes for SWLDs. Particularly, we examined how E-CTE participation relates to postsecondary remedial course taking, enrollment in a 4-year postsecondary institution, and declaration of a STEM major. Results from school fixed-effects estimations suggest that each credit of E-CTE earned is associated with fewer remedial college courses, a higher likelihood of enrolling in a 4-year as opposed to sub-baccalaureate institution, and increased odds of declaring a STEM major. To conclude, we discuss the implications of our findings for both policymakers and practitioners.

Exceptional Children, Volume 90, Issue 4, Page 422-441, July 2024.
Teacher rating scales (TRS) often play a part in service eligibility decisions for gifted services. Although schools regularly use TRS to identify gifted students either as part of an informal nomination process or through behavioral rating scales, there is little research documenting the between-teacher variance in teacher ratings and the consequences of such rater dependence. To evaluate the possible benefits or disadvantages of using TRS as part of a gifted identification process, we examined the student-, teacher-, and school-level variance in TRS, controlling for student ability and achievement to determine the unique information, consistency, and potential bias in TRS. Between 10% and 25% of a students’ TRS score can be attributed to the teacher doing the rating, and between-teacher standard deviations represent an effect size of one-third to one-half standard deviation. Our results suggest that TRS are not easily comparable across teachers, making it impossible to set a cut score for admission into a program (or for further screening) that functions equitably across teachers.

Exceptional Children, Volume 90, Issue 4, Page 442-460, July 2024.
Informed by disability critical race theory (DisCrit), this phenomenological study explored the perspectives of Black parents of young adults with high-incidence disabilities regarding their experiences with their children's postsecondary planning processes. Fourteen Black parents participated in semistructured interviews and shared recommendations for educator practices. Five overarching themes emerged from the phenomenological data analysis. Namely, Black parents (a) experienced invisibility by a lack of inclusive postsecondary planning, (b) felt marginalized due to collusive forces of ableism and racism, (c) persevered through postsecondary planning processes and beyond, (d) navigated inequities through social supports and other supports, and (e) enacted ongoing resistance and advocacy. Findings illuminate how Black parents experienced their child's postsecondary planning, and we provide recommendations for educators to advance the postsecondary planning needs of multiple marginalized students and their parents.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 1, Page 5-20, October 2024.
Engagement behaviors are crucial for school success and are often targeted for improvement in school-based interventions. It may be helpful for both researchers and school-based practitioners to understand the likely impacts of interventions on engagement behaviors (e.g., to understand the extent to which engagement behaviors might change with treatment). For single-case studies designed to answer demonstration questions (i.e., including a baseline condition) and that were conducted in elementary classroom settings (N = 131), we calculated log response ratio and within-case standardized mean difference effect sizes for engagement dependent variables to establish benchmarks. We described differences based on study characteristics (functional relation determination, publication status, primacy of outcome), disability status of participants, and implementation characteristics (group size, implementer). Effect sizes (645 A-B comparisons) were heterogenous and varied based on functional relation determination, disability status, and implementation variables. More research is needed about additional variables that might explain heterogenous outcomes, especially for children with autism and behavioral disorders.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 1, Page 93-113, October 2024.
This study examined the diversity in feelings of loneliness among high-ability students. Individual differences (intelligence level, giftedness label, and personality) and differences in the social context (peer acceptance, peer rejection, victimization, and friendship quantity) of adolescents were considered as predictors of loneliness. Additionally, gender differences were investigated in both the level of loneliness and in the effect of social-context characteristics on loneliness. The sample consisted of 403 students belonging to the top 10% of their age group in terms of cognitive ability (Mage = 12.4 years, 50.3% males). Variables were measured longitudinally across four time points during two consecutive school years using self-report and peer nominations. Multilevel growth curve analyses revealed that all predictors except giftedness label and peer rejection uniquely predicted loneliness over time. Gender differences were found for the effects of peer rejection and victimization. These findings highlight the diversity of social experiences among high-ability youth and emphasize the importance of both individual and contextual factors in shaping these distinct experiences.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 1, Page 57-73, October 2024.
Professionals play an important role in when and how families access autism services. Black families often experience disparate access to autism services compared to White families. Family Peer Advocates (FPAs) are professionals who have personal experience with the diagnostic process, school-based supports, and community-based services, and provide training and support to families. Understanding the experiences of FPAs may help researchers and practitioners better address the needs of Black autistic children and their families. The purpose of this qualitative study was to explore FPAs’ experiences providing autism-related services and resources for Black families with autistic children. We conducted focus groups with 32 FPAs from two agencies in one southeastern state. Three themes emerged from our inductive data analysis regarding FPA experiences: (a) serving multiple roles; (b) working with “zero resources”; and (c) variations in racial responsivity. Given our findings, we call for FPAs to ensure they are considering and responding to the intersecting impact of race on families’ experiences with autism diagnosis and services.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 1, Page 74-92, October 2024.
This study investigated the typologies of teacher attitudes toward gifted students and gifted education, along with the predictors of such attitudes. For this purpose, surveys were administered to 339 teachers employed in a large faith-based school system in Australia. Analyses including factor analysis and latent profile analysis were performed on the data. In the end, four distinct profiles of teacher attitudes were identified. Two key predictors of these attitudes were found to be (a) school administrative support for gifted students and gifted education and (b) perceived knowledge of giftedness. The major contributions of the study to the literature are discussed.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 1, Page 41-56, October 2024.
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the types of spelling errors made by children with mild to moderate hearing loss (CMMHL) compared with children with typical hearing (TH) and to determine if types of spelling errors were related to linguistic or audiologic factors. CMMHL and TH completed measures of spelling, spoken language, speech production, and reading. Children's spellings were coded for linguistic-based spelling errors using the Multilinguistic Coding System. The relation of types of linguistic spelling errors and children's performance on standardized language assessments, as well as audiologic factors, was evaluated. CMMHL did not make more spelling errors than TH; however, they exhibited a higher proportion of phonological awareness errors and a lower proportion of mental grapheme representation errors in their spellings. Phonological awareness errors and mental grapheme representation errors were related to relevant linguistic performance. Better-ear pure-tone average was related to total frequency of spelling errors and phonological awareness spelling errors, and better-ear Speech Intelligibility Index (SII) was related to semantic knowledge spelling errors. This study supports the use of linguistic spelling error analysis with CMMHL and provides evidence of the relation of types of linguistic spelling errors to linguistic knowledge and audiologic factors.

Exceptional Children, Volume 91, Issue 1, Page 21-40, October 2024.
Word problem-solving is one major area in mathematics that has been identified as being particularly challenging for students, specifically for those with learning disabilities (LDs) and emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). This study aims at evaluating the effects of a strategic math intervention with concept maps on the ability to solve word problems (addition and subtraction problems, number range of thousand) among students with LDs and EBD from the eighth grade. A multiple-baseline design across participants (N = 9) was applied to evaluate the intervention, which was held three times a week over a 6-week period. Overall, the results demonstrated a functional relation between the amount of correctly solved word problem tasks and the intervention. All nine students improved in word problem-solving, as evidenced by the fact that more tasks were solved, with a higher score in the intervention phase compared with the baseline (between-case standardized mean difference was 1.84; 95% confidence interval [1.24, 2.44]). The social validity data display that all students found the intervention helpful but also partly exhausting. The limitations and implications of this study are discussed.