Comprehensive School Reform and Inclusive Schools

Abstract

In spite of the emphasis in public policy and the professional literature on developing inclusive programs for students with disabilities over the past 30 years, surprisingly little progress has been made in this regard in school districts across the United States. One approach to change that is currently being used with some success in general education and that has shown promise for developing more inclusive schools is comprehensive school reform (CSR). This article provides a brief description of an approach to CSR that has been used to develop programs that support a diverse range of students, including students with disabilities in general education classrooms. Preliminary research on this approach to school change suggests that CSR has the potential to provide teachers and administrators with a framework to develop successful, sustainable inclusive programs. However, further research is needed to document the effectiveness of CSR across settings and with a range of outcome measures.