Online Courses

Inclusionary Practices Project

Inclusion is the belief and practice that all students have the right to meaningfully access academic and social opportunities in general education settings. Research consistently supports a positive link between access to instruction in general education settings and improved outcomes for students. Washington State is in the lowest quintile for inclusion nationwidei, with 57% of students with disabilities included in general education settings for 80–100% of the school day.

To support more inclusive schools, the Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) is partnering with stakeholders through the Inclusionary Practices Professional Development Project. This two-year, $25,000,000 project will span the 2019–20 and 2020–21 school years, with emphasis on implementation of professional development in support of inclusionary practices. The project focus is on coaching and mentoring classroom teachers on best practices for inclusive education, differentiated instruction, and individualized instruction.

Statewide Professional Development

For inclusion to be successful, personnel from paraeducators to district superintendents, and families, need to know what inclusion is and how their role is expected to support an inclusive learning environment. This project is about changing the culture in Washington, and for that reason, OSPI has partnered with multiple professional development (PD) providers to provide PD to a wide range of audiences.