The Influence Of Special Education On Education Support Of Ethnic Students As Perceived By Administrators And Teachers In Selected Public Schools In Education Service Center, Region 20, Texas

The purpose of this study was to identify educators' beliefs indicating the most preferred support for students with disabilities in the general education classroom setting. This study examined professional educators' attitudes regarding four student supports (motivation, accommodations/modifications, academic improvements, and social issues) for students with disabilities in the inclusive classroom. In addition, the goals of this study included public school educators' attitudes toward the aforementioned four areas of support, specifically within three student ethnic groups (Hispanic, African American, and Whites). The final goal of the study was to compare the attitudes of each of the organizational roles (administrators, general education teachers, special education teachers, and others) regarding motivation, accommodations/modifications, academic improvements, and social issues of students with disabilities participating in general education inclusive classrooms.

The findings from this research indicate:

1. Educators perceive accommodations/modifications to be the most beneficial support to offer all students with disabilities in the general education inclusive classroom.
2. Educators perceive accommodations/modifications to be the most beneficial support to offer all students with disabilities in the general education inclusive classroom, regardless of ethnic origin. The results of this study reveal no difference in educators' attitudes within the three student ethnic groups.
3. Administrators, general education teachers, and the organizational role of other professionals in the school believe the primary focus for student support in the inclusive classroom should be on incorporating appropriate accommodations/modifications.
4. Special education teachers perceive academic improvements (differentiated instruction) as their first preference of student support for children with disabilities in the inclusive classroom.

The overall findings in this study clearly reveal a pattern of educators' preferences regarding the four student supports for students in special education programs. Accommodations/modifications is the first focus of support for educators to implement, followed by academic improvements (differentiated instruction). The pattern continues with educators indicating motivation to be the third student support and social issues to be the fourth preference.