| Research Findings
The U.S. Department of Education, Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) funded several research projects in 1997, entitled Beacons of Excellence. The intent of the projects was to identify factors associated with schools whose students with disabilities were achieving exemplary learning results within the context of all students achieving such results. The Institute on Community Integration at the University of Minnesota, in collaboration with the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC), was awarded a research project to study the factors associated with exemplary inclusive high schools (Grant Number #H023D70102).
Purpose of the Research
The project was designed to study how curricula, instruction, leadership, and other factors contribute to exemplary results for all high school students. The conceptual model used to guide the research was built on the framework established by the Malcolm Baldrige National Quality Award for education, which was established in 1998 to recognize performance excellence in schools (National Institute of Standards and Technology [NIST], 1998). Additional input for the model was gathered from a broad group of constituents interested in youth and educational concerns, and school completion and post-school outcomes established by the National Center for Educational Outcomes at the University of Minnesota.
School Completion & Post-School Outcomes
- School completion outcomes refer to those outcomes achieved by students at the point of school completion that are often associated with the outcome -- end of school, “aging out”, grade 12
- Post-school outcomes refer to those outcomes achieved by individuals who have left school (NCEO)
Outcome Indicators
Outcome indicators are the numbers or other symbolic representations that can be used to determine whether desired outcomes are achieved
Publications
The Leadership Factor: A Key to Inclusive High Schools
The Leadership Factor is a document designed for school and district administrators, and school leaders. It is a composite of the leadership themes identified in the case studies of four high schools (see below) studied through the Beacons of Excellence research.
The Leadership Factor: Poster
A poster of the key themes described in The Leadership Factor (above).
Case Studies of School Leadership
A case study was written on the leadership of each of the participating schools. These case studies identify leadership themes that emerged through numerous interviews with each school's community. The Leadership Factor publication, above, is the summary of these leadership themes.
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