Connections PDF - Reena

Research Results from BC: Inclusion of special
education students doesn't affect classmates’
education
The Centre for Education Research and Policy
(CERP) at Simon Fraser University has released a
compelling research report on the effects of
inclusive education. It demonstrates that having
special needs students in the regular classes does not
affect the learning of other students.
For some time, inclusion has been criticized as
setting conditions where teachers are spending all
their time with students with special needs and
neglecting other students. It has been suggested that
inclusion holds other children back. The research
shows this is not accurate.
CERP at Simon Fraser University analyzed
data from British Columbia to contribute credible
new evidence. Researchers compared the
performance of successive cohorts within every
public elementary school in B.C. (as measured by
the change in individual test scores between grades
4-7), to see if the proportion of peers with
disabilities makes any difference to the achievement
of non-disabled students.
They found that “Attending school with a
higher percentage of students with disabilities is
found to have only extremely small and statistically
insignificant effects on the reading and numeracy
achievement of non-disabled students.”
Under current conditions, the placement of
students with special learning needs and disabilities
into regular classrooms does not compromise the
education of their average non-disabled classmates.
The study does not evaluate the helpfulness of
the inclusion policy for disabled students
themselves, or measure any non-educational effects.
Jane Friesen, Ross Hickey and Brian Krauth of
Simon Fraser University conducted the research.
We recommend the full report to readers. To
view, print and share the report with others visit:
www.sfu.ca/cerp/research/d_p_a_a.pdf
To view the press release on the report go to:
www.sfu.ca/cerp/research/briefings.html#peers2
Reprinted with permission from the Spring edition of
“Education watch: an update on inclusive education”
(a publication of Canadian Association for
Community Living and inclusive education Canada.
(www.inclusiveeducation.ca)
Mark your calendars
May 6, 2010
Effective Communication
7:00pm at Bloorview Kids Rehab
To register for this workshop, please contact
June Chiu at 416-425-6220 ex. 3318
Limited childcare spaces are available for
children over the age of 2 1/2
For further information please contact the Education
Liaison, Sharon Ross at 416-438-1165 ext. 222
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