This volume brings together some thought provoking discussions on inclusive education within the current education climate. Is inclusive education worth pursuing or is the fervour for its implementation subsiding as the realities of its challenges are understood?

Over the last two decades, the implementation of inclusive schooling has increased significantly in European countries and worldwide. According to empirical evidence, one of the most important success factors in implementing inclusive schooling are the attitudes of the actors involved. Previous studies have shown that positive attitudes towards inclusive schooling are not only a condition for success regarding the implementation, but also an important outcome variable of inclusive education. The present study provides empirical insights into the attitudes towards students with learning disabilities and behavioral disorders. A study called ATIS-STEP (Attitudes Towards Inclusive Schooling - Students', TEachers' and Parents' Attitudes) was conducted in the school year 2016/17 in 48 inclusive classrooms in Austria. It is the first study to provide longitudinal data that examines the attitudes of the three different stakeholder groups: students, teachers and parents. Furthermore, the interdependency of the attitudes of the three groups, as well as the influence of previous contact experience on the attitudes are analyzed and discussed. Dr. Susanne Schwab: Professorin für Methodik und Didaktik in den Förderschwerpunkten Lernen sowie emotionale und soziale Entwicklung, School of Education am Institut für Bildungsforschung an der Bergischen Universität Wuppertal, Deutschland, und Extraordinary Professor in der Research Focus Area Optentia an der North-West University, Vanderbijlpark, South Africa. Vorsitzende der Sektion Empirische pädagogische Forschung der Österreichischen Gesellschaft für Forschung und Entwicklung im Bildungswesen (ÖFEB). Arbeitsschwerpunkte: Inklusionspädagogik, Lehrerprofessionalisierung, Soziale Partizipation.

The purpose of the study was to examine the attitudes of general educators toward movement of students with special needs into general education classrooms. This study was conducted using a descriptive quantitative approach with a survey design. The total number of participants was 73 with a total return rate of 53%. Teachers were surveyed on their (a) attitudes towards students with disabilities in inclusive settings, (b) beliefs about professional roles and responsibilities, and (c) beliefs about the efficacy of inclusion. Time spent with special education teachers tended to increase teacher beliefs that students with mild to moderate disabilities can be more effectively educated in regular classrooms as opposed to special education classrooms. The vast majority of teachers responded positively to their roles and responsibilities with students with disabilities. General education teachers showed a positive belief in the efficacy of inclusion, as 80% indicated that they believed inclusion was effective due to the social skills that can be learned. Almost 20% of participants did not believe that students with mild or moderate disabilities should be educated in the general education classroom to the fullest extent possible. It is recommended that administrators address the attitudes of general education teachers. This could be done through in-service training, mentoring and allotting time to collaborate with special education teachers. More research should be done to determine reasons why teacher attitudes are negative, so that schools may work to maintain positive attitudes and successful inclusion programs.

Explains how to apply the lessons and theories of the past 15 years to the actual practice of integrating young children with disabilities into the mainstream community. Chronicles and evaluates the various research projects, programs, and models that have been and are being used. For professionals, graduates, and administrators in education and sp.

The purpose of this research study was to examine the relationship between the change process for inclusive teaching practices and the attitudes of educators toward inclusion of students with disabilities in the general educational setting. This research study was based upon the theoretical construct of Rogers' (2003) Diffusion of Innovations, which identifies the specific process in which any innovation is introduced within a social organization. A descriptive correlational design was used to examine the quantitative data collected from teachers and administrators from school districts. Teachers and administrators completed the Opinions Relative to the Integration of Students with Disabilities (ORl; Antonak & Larrivee, 1995) and the Change Process Survey (CPS; Keaster, 2007). The ORl assessed the educators' attitudes toward the inclusion of students with disabilities in the general classroom across four constructs. In addition, the CPS measured participants' responses to the change process in regards to the implementation of inclusion within the schools. The sample consisted of 96 educators (83 teachers and 13 administrators) from 7 schools within a geographical region of south central Kentucky. The data were analyzed by descriptive statistics, and inferential analysis consisting of both parametric and nonparametric methodologies: t-test for independent samples, Mann-Whitney U test, and ANOVA. The results indicated a statistically significant positive correlation between the change process constructs and the educators' attitudes toward the inclusive innovation. However, teachers' attitudes varied significantly as compared to administrators' perceptions of teachers' attitudes, as teachers indicated the need for further training on inclusion in order for the program to be successful. This research contributes to the education field by highlighting the necessity for both teacher preparation programs and school districts to infuse their programs with training on topics of special education, particularly on the inclusive teaching practices for students with disabilities. The results also point out the importance of attention to all parts of the change process when any innovation is introduced in educational settings.