Teacher Receptivity to Collaboration: Levels of Interest, Types of Concern, and School Characteristics as Variables Contributing to Successful Implementation

Abstract

Mandates at the federal, state, and local level are calling for collaboration of classroom teachers and specialists to deliver services to students at risk and with special needs in mainstream settings. To facilitate implementation of collaboration successfully, it is necessary to identify and address variables associated with teacher receptivity toward collaboration, such as level of interest and concerns. Other variables, such as school and teacher characteristics, may also impact the implementation process. The purposes of this study were threefold. We wished to determine (a) whether regular educators and specialists are interested in collaborating with one another to achieve the inclusion of students who are low achieving or have cognitive disabilities into regular classes, instead of their placement in separate pull-out classes; (b) what kinds of concerns, needs, beliefs, and attitudes about participating in a collaborative project may be characteristic of teachers at various levels of interest; and (c) if level of interest and attitudes/concerns are related to teacher and school characteristics.