Researchers at the University of Kansas (KU) have selected six schools from across the country to serve as models of inclusive education for KU’s five-year, $24.5 million K-eighth grade national education initiative called SWIFT (School-wide Integrated Framework for Transformation) funded by U.S. Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs in October 2012.
Berkeley’s very own Willard Middle School has been named a knowledge development site. Willard was selected along with five other schools from a list of 35 from across the nation through a rigorous nomination process based on the extent of their inclusion practices and indicators of high academic achievement on the part of all students.
Willard and the other 5 schools will partner with SWIFT Center researchers to produce a comprehensive field study of exemplary practices in inclusive education that lead to academic achievement gains for all students, including those with disabilities, said Sailor. The field study will help to provide new knowledge to guide the SWIFT Center technical assistance efforts over the next four years.
This is the second time this school year that Willard has been nationally recognized for its inclusionary model of special education. In November 2012 Willard Middle School was selected by TASH as the 2012 June Downing Breakthroughs in Inclusive Education School Award Winner.
The full press release from the University of Kansas is here.