An International Perspective on Issues in Special …...Session presentation at the 13th Biennial...

An International Perspective on Issues in Special Education

Dimitris AnastasiouSouthern Illinois University Carbondale

Imam University Students Visit August 17, 2015

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Opening remarks

• Laws and policies assure the right to education for students with disabilities.

– Yet there are huge differences in:

• How many students receive special education.

• Quality of special education services

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Challenges of Doing International Research

1. Comparable international data on education ?2. Large variability in terms of

– Classification and types of disabilities, – identification and eligibility criteria, – number of students served, and – types of placement

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Empirical Research?• Lack of a systematic empirical analysis in cross-national

differences

• In health care: – much empirical research and a thriving field of comparative

health care policy

• In special education:

– Few studies at the international level

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A 6-year research project 1. Anastasiou, D., Kauffman, J. M., & Di’ Nuovo, S. (accepted March 11, 2015). The

Right to education for persons with disabilities in a nearly full inclusive education system: The case of Italy. European Journal of Special Needs Education.

2. Ametepee, L. K. & Anastasiou, D. (2015). Special and inclusive education in Ghana: Status and progress, challenges and implications. International Journal of Educational Development 41, 143-152.

3. Anastasiou, D., & Keller, C. E. (2014). Cross-national differences in special education coverage: An empirical analysis. Exceptional Children, 80, 353-357.

4. Anastasiou, D., & Keller, C. E. (2011). International differences in provision for exceptional learners. In J. M. Kauffman & D. P. Hallahan (Eds.), Handbook of special education (pp. 773-787). New York: Routledge.

5. Anastasiou, D., Gardner, R. & Michail, D. (2011). Ethnicity and Exceptionality. In J. M. Kauffman & D. P. Hallahan (Eds.), Handbook of special education (pp. 745-758). New York: Routledge.

6. Anastasiou, D., & Keller, E. (2010). Special education in Finland: A system beyond the uniformity of a globalized ideal. Epistimes tis agogis (Education Sciences -Special Issue), 155-167. 5

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Research Strategies (1)• Descriptive Designs (legal approach)

– Anastasiou, D., Kauffman, J. M., & Di’ Nuovo, S. (2015). The Right to education for persons with disabilities in a nearly full inclusive education system: The case of Italy. European Journal of Special Needs Education.

• A Typology based on systematic criteria to classify special education subsystems in 143 countries – Anastasiou, D., & Keller, C. E. (2011). International differences in

provision for exceptional learners. In J. M. Kauffman & D. P. Hallahan (Eds.), Handbook of special education (pp. 773-787). New York: Routledge.

• Case Study and Program Evaluation Methodology (EFA strategic plan of Ghana)– Ametepee, L. K. & Anastasiou, D. (2015). Special and inclusive

education in Ghana: Status and progress, challenges and implications. International Journal of Educational Development 41, 143-152.

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Research Strategies (2)

• Advanced Statistical Techniques: Structural Equation Modeling (MRA + CFA) – Anastasiou, D., & Keller, C. E. (2014). Cross-national differences in

special education coverage: An empirical analysis. Exceptional Children, 80, 353-357.

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Presentations at Conferences (2014-2015)1. Anastasiou, D. (2015, June). Macro- Socio-economics and Educational Outcomes

in PISA Assessment. Presentation at the IASE Conference, New Dimensions toward Education, Advocacy, and Collaboration for Individuals with Special Needs, Wroclaw, Poland, June 21-25, 2015.

2. Anastasiou, D. (2015, June). Politics, Socioeconomics and Special Education: Are they Related: An Empirical Study. Presentation at the IASE Conference, New Dimensions toward Education, Advocacy, and Collaboration for Individuals with Special Needs, Wroclaw, Poland, June 21-25, 2015.

3. Anastasiou, D. & Keller, C. (2014, July). Special education’s effects on national educational outcomes. Presentation at the DISES-CEC Conference, Embracing Inclusive Approaches, Braga, Portugal, July 14-17, 2014.

4. Mavropalias, T. & Anastasiou, D. (2014, July). The face of the Greek co‐teaching model: Teachers’ perspectives. Presentation at the DISES-CEC Conference, Embracing Inclusive Approaches, Braga, Portugal, July 14-17, 2014

5. Chakraborti‐Ghosh, S., Anastasiou, D., & Carlo, Β. Α. (July, 2014). Embracing inclusive approaches around the world: Issues, challenges, barriers. Presentation at the DISES-CEC Conference, Braga, Portugal, July 14-17, 2014.

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Presentations at Conferences (2013-2014)6. Anastasiou, D. & Keller, C. (2014, April). Differences in Special Education Coverage and

Educational Outcomes across 61 Countries. Presentation at the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) Annual Convention, Philadelphia, PA, April 11, 2014.

7. Anastasiou, D. & Mavropalias, T. (2013, July). Teachers’ perspectives on the co-teaching model in Greece. Lecture presentation at the 13th Biennial Conference of the International Association of Special Education, Vancouver, BC, Canada, July 7-11, 2013.

8. Keller, C., Al-Hendawi, M., Anastasiou, D., & Wang, M. (2013, July). Conducting International Comparative Research in Special Education. Session presentation at the 13th Biennial Conference of the International Association of Special Education, Vancouver, BC, Canada, July 7-11, 2013.

9. Anastasiou, D. & Keller, C. (2013, April). Cross-National Differences in Special Education Coverage: An Empirical Analysis by Economic Level. Lecture presentation at the CEC Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX, April 6, 2013.

10. Keller, C., Al-Hendawi, M., Anastasiou, D., & Wang, M. (2013, April). Conducting International, Comparative Special Education Research: Lessons from Three Projects. Poster presented at the CEC Annual Convention, San Antonio, TX, April 5, 2013.

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Presentations at Conferences (2010-2012)11. Anastasiou, D. & Keller, C. (2012, April). Differences in national special education coverage:

An educational and economic model. Lecture presentation at The CEC Annual Convention, Denver, CO, April 12, 2012.

12. Anastasiou, D. & Keller, C. (2011, April). International differences in educational provision for exceptional learners: A typological approach. Lecture presentation at The CEC Annual Convention, National Harbor, MD, April 28, 2011.

13. Keller, C. & Anastasiou, D. (2011, April). International Differences in Educational Provision for Exceptional Learners: A Typological Approach. Invited lecture for the Faculty of Education, University of Crete, Rethmynon, Crete, Greece, April 7, 2011.

14. Anastasiou, D. & Keller, C. E. (2011, January). International Differences in Educational Provision for Exceptional Learners: A Typological Approach. Public seminar for the Center for Educational Development and Research, College of Education, Qatar University, Doha, Qatar, January 12, 2011.

15. Anastasiou, D. & Keller, C. E. (2010, July). International Differences in Educational Provision for Exceptional Learners: A Typological Approach. Lecture session presented at the conference, Presentation at the DISES-CEC Conference, Embracing Inclusive Approaches for Children and Youth with Special Education Needs, Riga, Latvia, July 13, 2010.

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Two Samples of International Work• Anastasiou & Keller’s (2011) typology: Detecting

patterns among several educational and economic indicators

• The role of special education in educational outcomes

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Weakness in geographical approaches

Saudi Arabia & Yemen Iran & Afghanistan Japan & Myanmar South Africa & Liberia

• Geographical lens is not a satisfactory method.

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Three axes in the typology

– National education system

- Special Education Subsystem

– Inclusion

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The six typesNATIONALEDUCATION SYSTEM

SPECIAL EDUCATION PROVISION

Limited Moderate Extensive

Limited Low Inclusion: Nigeria

Not found Not found

Developing Low Inclusion: China

Low Inclusion: Brazil

Not found (2 marginal cases)

Developed Not found Low Inclusion: Italy

Low Inclusion: Germany

High Inclusion: Not found

High Inclusion: Finland

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A question

• Do the huge differences in special education

coverage (defined as how many students receive

special education) play a role in education

outcomes across countries?

• Do students benefit from special education

system? 21

National Education System Education Quality (e.g., Teaching Staff, Classroom Conditions) Actual Participation Completion Rates of of School-Age Population Basic Education

Socio-Economic Context Economy National Economy Strength Inequality in Wealth Literacy Levels

Special Education Coverage

Education Expenditures

Educational Outcomes (Years of Schooling, and Reading, Math, Science Performance)

Macro-level

Meso-level

Micro-level

Proposed Conceptual Model for cross-national differences in Education Outcomes and the role of Special Education Coverage in a multivariate context 22

The role of socio-economic factors

A parsimonious model of educational and two socio-economic variables accounted for about 77% of thevariance in special education coverage across 143countries (Anastasiou & Keller, 2014).

The inclusion of economic factors and adult literacylevels resulted in a better prediction of the access tospecial education services than if they were not in themodel.

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• The Overall Model accounted for 77.3% of the variance in sped coverage. (N = 143)Anastasiou, D., & Keller, C. E. (2014). Cross-national differences in special education coverage: An empirical analysis. Exceptional Children, 80(3), 353-357. 24

Thank you!

• anastasiou@siu.edu

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