Inclusion and Adaptive Instruction in Elementary Education

Abstract

This article addresses developments in inclusion and adaptive instruction in Dutch elementary schools between 1992-1993 and 1995-1996. Analyses indicate that partnerships between regular and special education schools and school policies on the professional development of teachers were implemented with increasing fidelity. Substantial progress was made with regard to school policies on how to proceed in case of student failure, and the range of special strategies for inclusion that schools offered somewhat increased. The frequency with which teachers used differentiated instruction and adapted the curriculum to meet students' individual needs also increased. However, the frequency with which student progress was monitored decreased slightly. Facilitative measures at the school and regional levels fostered implementation of school-level strategies for inclusion. In turn, school-level strategies for inclusion fostered adaptive instruction at the classroom level to a significant degree. No significant direct relation was found between facilitative measures at the school and regional levels and adaptive instruction at the classroom level.