Council for Exceptional Children Standards for Evidence-Based Practices in Special Education

• Published in: Teaching exceptional children Vol. 46; no. 6; pp. 206 - 212
• Main Authors: Cook, Bryan, Buysse, Virginia, Klingner, Janette, Landrum, Tim, McWilliam, Robin, Tankersley, Melody, Test, Dave
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Los Angeles, CA SAGE Publications 01.07.2014; SAGE PUBLICATIONS, INC
• Subjects: Behavior; Best Practices; Classification; Comparative Analysis; Design; Educational Indicators; Educational Quality; Educational Research; Elementary Secondary Education; Evidence; Experiments; Outcomes of Education; Population; Preschool Children; Quasiexperimental Design; Reading; Reading comprehension; Regression (Statistics); Research Methodology; Special Education; Studies; Teaching Methods; Validity; Variables
• ISSN: 0040-0599; 2163-5684
• DOI: 10.1177/0040059914531389

In this article, the "Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)" presents Standards for Evidence-Based Practices in Special Education. The statement presents an approach for categorizing the evidence base of practices in special education. The quality indicators and the criteria for categorizing the evidence base of special education practices is intended for use by groups or individuals with advanced training and experience in educational research design and methods. The CEC's approach to categorizing the evidence base of practices in special education considers two research methods: group comparison research (e.g., randomized experiments, nonrandomized quasi-experiments, regression discontinuity designs) and single-subject research. The article next describes the standards establish criteria for five evidence-based classifications: evidence-based practices, potentially evidence-based practices, mixed effects, insufficient evidence, or negative effects. CEC's goal is that the standards will be applied to better understand the effectiveness of a range of practices for learners with disabilities. [This report was commissioned by the Council for Exceptional Children Board of Directors. A workgroup comprising seven special education researchers: Bryan Cook, Chair; Virginia Buysse; Janette Klingner; Tim Landrum; Robin McWilliam; Melody Tankersley; and Dave Test developed, vetted, and piloted the new standards for determining evidence-based practices in special education.]