Increasing Special Education Research OpportunitiesTHE POLICY BEHIND EXPANDING EVIDENCE-BASED PRACTICES

Today’s Discussion

Brief Historical Perspective & Overview of Federal Role in Special Education Research

Dramatic Funding Losses & Impact on New Research Opportunities

Strengthening Education Through Research Act

A Quick Look Back…2002

Education Sciences

Reform Act

Est. Institute of Education Sciences

2004

IDEA Reauthorization

2004

National Center for Special Education Research Created

2006

NCSER Awards First Grants

By 2013

Over 260 Grants, in 30

states awarded

A Quick Look Back…

260 Research Projects in Key Areas

400,000 Special Educators Nationwide

6 Million Children & Youth with Disabilities

A Quick Look Back…

Institute of Education Sciences• National Center for Education Research• National Center for Special Education

Research • National Center for Education Evaluation and

Regional Assistance• National Center for Education Statistics

A Broad Reach

CEC State Profiles

How many NCSER grants

funded in your state?

Who was funded?

Examples of research

supported.

http://www.cec.sped.org/Policy-and-Advocacy/More-Issues/Special-Education-Research

A Broad Impact

NCSER Summary of Research Findingshttp://ies.ed.gov/ncser/projects/

Dramatic Funding Loss & Impact on New Research

2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 20150

10,00020,00030,00040,00050,00060,00070,00080,00090,000

National Center for Special Education Research Funding History (in thousands)

30

%

Dramatic Funding Loss & Impact on New Research

75% fewer research grants in 2013

4% of high quality grants funded in 2013,

down from 12% in 2012

Strengthening Education Through Research Act

House Education and the Workforce

Committee Report

“[The Strengthening Education Through

Research Act] includes important policy

changes to address requests from the

special education community, including the

Council for Exceptional Children and

National Center for Learning Disabilities.”

May 2014

Strengthening Education Through Research ActPrioritizing special education research funding within

the Institute of Education Sciences.

“Most importantly, SETRA proposes to prioritize funding for special education research…the bill will allow for increased funding for NCSER each year the bill is

authorized and authorizes a 12.9 percent increase …in the least year of the bill.”

- House Education & the Workforce Committee Report- May 2014

Strengthening Education Through Research ActEmphasizes the elimination of the achievement gap

between students with and without disabilities.

Increases dissemination and collaboration with the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS).

Highlights children with disabilities who are also English language learners, gifted and talented .

Increases the pipeline of early career special education researchers.

Ensures peer reviewers have expertise in areas relevant to grant applications.

Questions?