Date Awarded

2013

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Department

Education

Advisor

Megan Tschannen-Moran

Committee Member

Bruce Bracken

Committee Member

Michael F. DiPaola

Abstract

Co-teaching has been used to address access and accountability mandates for students with disabilities. Despite research regarding elements needed for co-teaching success, research shows mixed results regarding co-teaching effectiveness as it relates to student achievement. Given that teachers are the most influential school-related factor vis-a-vis student achievement, this quantitative study, utilizing a cross-sectional survey design, was employed to gain additional information regarding urban, secondary co-teacher perceptions of co-teaching. to that end the Co-teacher Perceptions Survey was administered to 95 middle and high school co-teachers in an urban school district situated in eastern Virginia. Results of this study indicate that successful co-teachers have higher perceptions of co-teaching, co-teacher philosophy and co-planning than unsuccessful co-teachers. Successful co-teachers also have different perceived use of co-teaching models than unsuccessful co-teachers as they use station and alternative teaching more often than their unsuccessful counterparts. However, no differences were noted in co-teacher perceptions for the following subgroups: general and special education co-teachers, middle and high school co-teachers, novice and veteran co-teachers, and voluntary and non-voluntary co-teachers. Implications for practice include ensuring both co-teachers are held equally responsible for student performance in co-taught classes and incorporating co-planning time in the master schedule with high expectations for deliverables from the co-planning process.

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25774/w4-k0jv-ry42

Rights

© The Author

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