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120+ Special Education Research Topics: That You Need to Know

Special education research topics study issues related to the quality of education people with disabilities get. Studying this field helps to improve the learning atmosphere for students with disabilities and address any challenges that they face. For instance, action research topics in special education help improve teachers’ classroom practices and how students adapt to the real world.

Social Issues Special Education Research Topics

Social media research topic in special education, best disability topics for research papers for your special education research, argumentative research topics for special education, easy special education thesis topics, current topics in special education for stem students.

Conclusion

You can use several interesting special education research topics in your essay. However, if you need help with educational research topics, read on to find a list of 120+ topics we have compiled.

Social issues research topics play a critical role in identifying problems and solutions that people deal with in a community. That makes it a vital element for people studying special ed research topics. We have compiled qualitative research topics in special education you can use.

Ways that peer support can help children with disability socialize in the classroom
What are the social challenges faced by special needs children in mainstream schools?
A review of how to address the needs of a gifted child that has special needs
Best ways to address the needs of students with emotional disorders in special education
Special education feeds vs. school funding: Are there inequality issues?
How can the education system offer an easy transition to children with special needs in early education?
Strategies for creating a culturally responsive classroom
Do educators who work with children with special needs need counseling?
A look at how children with special needs transit from school to employment
What are the best practices for developing social skills in students with autism?
Is it fair to have alternatives to traditional testing for children with special needs?
In what ways does special education help to promote social justice and Equality in Education
How to identify students with hidden needs in special education
What is the role of cultural competence in special education?
Can poverty influence special needs outcomes?
Assertive technology in special education: The review
Are teachers for students with special education with low supply?
Should those who teach special education get better pay?
Can education improve the life of a student with special needs?
Ways that technology can make it easy for educators to train kids with special needs

If you are looking for trending and interesting topics that will impress your professor, then consider choosing anatomy research paper topics or social media research paper topics . Note that the best special edu topic will help take your essay to the next level.

How do social media help people with special needs in the community?
A look at how social media has advocated for special education
What role has social media played in cultural competency in special education?
Ways that social media has created a voice for people with special needs and the importance of them receiving education
A look at how social media has influenced adaptive physical education for people with special needs
Assistive technology in connection with social media for individuals with special needs
What is the impact of social media on people with hearing impairment?
Do people with special needs use social media to network and find work?
In what ways does social media impact the transition to adulthood for people with special needs
Can social media affect how students with special needs perceive the world?
Is there any role of social media for kids who need special education
What is the role of social media in special education
How to use technology and social media to improve the special education program
How can social media help students with special needs get more confident
What resources are available in social media that educators can use in their special needs classes?
Do social media affect the image that people have of people with autism?
How can teachers use social media to help kids with autism?
How does social media bullying affect children on social media?
Social media can be used to who special education and its importance
Why it is time for special education to be showcased on social media platforms

One of the topics that students doing special education research have to study is disability because the topics are related. With this subtopic, you have various options ranging from economics research paper topics , to controversial topics in special education. Here is a list of options to choose from.

Should suspending a student with a disability be an issue
What can be done to improve the education of people with disabilities?
Should children with severe disabilities be in a normal class setting?
In what ways has technology made it easy for people with disabilities to get educated?
A review of how a teacher’s academic background can affect students with disability
How should teachers make children with disabilities feel part of the classroom?
What are the benefits of post-education for adults with disability
A look at inclusivity policies in public schools when it comes to children with disability
Parents’ role in educating children with disability
Mainstream classrooms vs. special classes for students with learning abilities
How effective are peer support programs for students with disabilities in special education
Strategies that can help promote social skills development in children with spectrum disorder
What is the impact of language and communication barriers on the education of people with hearing impairment
How does early intervention help to support kids with a disability?
The importance of having community-based programs that help to support people with disability
Why do teachers teaching special education need to be appreciated
Can people with special education needs be taught online?
How can the community help those who need special education to get it?
Why do parents with special needs students need to work closely with teachers to give the child the best education?
How should teachers handle the different learning paces of students with special needs in their class?

If well-researched and presented, argumentative essay topics for your special education essay might be best. With the right topic and information research topics on special education, you can be assured of getting the best grades. You may also be interested in these ideas for biochemistry topics .

A take on homeschooling for kids taking special education
Does the size of the classroom affect the ability of the teacher to deal with students who need special education?
Should special education students be sent to the next class even if they have not passed the current one?
Should physical education be a compulsory lesson?
Should the teacher’s proficiency in handling students with special needs to regularly tested?
Should students with special education needs sit for the same exam as those who do not?
In what ways can teachers avoid stereotyping?
How can teachers understand a student’s uniqueness so that they can offer them the right training
Why should children with special needs not pay extra?
Why should teachers train on special education outcome
Why should there be different learning strategies for students with a disability?
Why are charter schools better for students with a disability?
Funding for the special education
What role do paraeducators play in special education classes?
Do teachers teach students with special needs to require social skills training?
What is the challenge of transitional planning for students with special needs?
A review of Collaged admission for students with special needs
What role does self-advocacy play in students with special education?
How does remote learning for special education work?
What are the effects of AHDH medication in schools for people with AHDH?

Are you looking for research topics for special education that are easy? We have compiled great thesis topic ideas for special education; read on and choose one that you can easily handle, and take to review our thesis statement about social media .

How is co-teaching in an all-inclusive classroom effective?
In what ways does self-determination impact children with disability
Play therapy and why it is essential for children with special needs
The effect of peer tutoring in special education
What is the role of social skill training in special education
Is it possible for any qualified teacher to teach children with special needs
Parents and teachers have a role to play in special education
Applied behavior analysis and Special education
Picture Exchange Communication System and Special education
Why should students with a disability be included in the standard classroom?
Is mindfulness technique in special education effective
How does music therapy in the classroom help kids with special needs?
Analysis of Individualized Education Program in special education
Visual support while teaching learners with special needs
Why school psychology is necessary for special education
Literacy Intervention in special education
Why do students with disability need transitional planning?
Speech-language pathologist in special education
Why school inspection is important in schools dealing with students with special education
Special education students and learning sciences

You can always go right when you choose current topics as your research in special education topics. If you are searching for a research topic for stem students , here are great topic ideas you can use.

Comparing social interactions for special kids in stem schools
Importance of an inclusive teaching approach for stem students with special needs
What is the role of speech-language therapy in an inclusive environment?
What performance challenges do special children face due to certain lacks?
What is the effectiveness of sensory diets in special education
Physical therapy in kids with disability
What is positive reinforcement, and why is it important in special education
What is the role of service learning in children with special education?
Should special education schools approach stem subjects differently?
In what ways can special school educators help kids avoid bullying
How can parents with special needs students ensure better performance?
Should there be a free education right for children with disability from elementary to college?
What is the best environment for children with special needs to learn?
Is it possible for mainstream teachers to teach special education?
Story-based interventions in special education
Assistive technology on math skills for students with disabilities
Orientation and mobility specialist in special education
What role does a behavior specialist in special education
Should there be a school nurse in all special education schools?
Video modeling in special education

Once you have the special education research paper topics you will use, you need to write a great paper or help me write my thesis . Students who need assistance with their research paper – whether with special ed topics or not, can now contact our paper writing service for exceptional work.

200 Good Research Topics For Special Education: Best Guide

In today’s blog, we will discuss the research topics for special education students. Quality research is critical to improving special education and helping students with disabilities thrive. Many vital areas still need to be studied further.

Some top research priorities include developing better ways to identify disabilities early on, testing teaching methods and tools that meet diverse learning needs, using technology to assist students, promoting inclusion in mainstream classrooms, and training teachers to adapt curriculum.

It manages special needs classrooms, understanding differences across disability types, improving communication between families and schools, reducing bullying, and continuously evaluating programs to address gaps in support. Research that uncovers what works versus what doesn’t will allow educators to serve each student better.

While progress has been made, through ongoing research, we can gain new insights and strategies that will optimize the learning experience and future success for students with special needs. This blog post will explore promising research topics in special education that could make a significant impact.

Importance of Research in Special Education

Table of Contents

Here are some reasons why research is vital in special education:

Helps teachers learn new teaching methods and tools that work best for students with disabilities. This gives teachers more ideas to try in the classroom.
Finds better and earlier ways to identify disabilities so students can get the help they need sooner.
Creates new technologies to help students in the classroom and at home.
Looks at how schools, families, and communities can best support students with disabilities. This helps improve special education programs.
Teaches more about different types of disabilities so teachers know how to precisely help each student’s needs.
Tracks how students do after graduating to see what more can be done to help their transition to adulthood.

In short, research improves special education and outcomes for students with disabilities. It provides teachers with the knowledge and tools to help their students be successful. Research is crucial for making special education effective and helping all students thrive.

200 Research Topics For Special Education

Here are some research topics for special education students:

Inclusive Education Research Topics For Special Education

Implementing Inclusive Practices in Mainstream Classrooms
The Impact of Inclusive Education on Social Skills Development
Teacher Training for Inclusive Classrooms
Enhancing Accessibility in Inclusive Education Settings
Parental Involvement in Inclusive Education Programs
The Major Role of Assistive Technology in Inclusive Classrooms
Promoting Positive Attitudes Towards Inclusion among Students
Addressing Bullying in Inclusive Education Environments
Inclusive Physical Education for Students with Disabilities
Evaluating the Effectiveness of Inclusive Education Policies

Learning Disabilities Research Topics For Special Education

Identifying and Supporting Students with Dyslexia
Techniques for Teaching Mathematics to Students with Learning Disabilities
Assistive Technology for Students with Learning Disabilities
Addressing Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in the Classroom
Effective Reading Interventions for Pupils with Learning Disabilities
Social-Emotional Learning for Students with Learning Disabilities
Executive Functioning Skills and Learning Disabilities
Cognitive Behavioral Interventions for Students with Learning Disabilities
Differentiated Instruction for Students with Learning Disabilities
Transition Planning for Students with Learning Disabilities

Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) Research Topics For Special Education

Early Intervention Strategies for Children with Autism
Social Skills Training for Students with Autism
Inclusive Extracurricular Activities for Students with Autism
Communication Interventions for Non-Verbal Students with Autism
Classroom Modifications for Students with Autism
Sensory Integration Strategies for Students with Autism
Peer Support Programs for Students with Autism
Technology-Based Interventions for Students with Autism
Parental Involvement in Autism Education Programs
Inclusive Practices for Adolescents with Autism

Behavioral Disorders Research Topics For Special Education

Positive Behavior Support in Special Education
Strategies for Managing Disruptive Behavior in the Classroom
Implementing Restorative Justice in Special Education Settings
Functional Behavior Assessments for Individualized Intervention
School-Wide Behavior Management Systems
Social Skills Training for Pupils with Behavioral Disorders
Role of School Counselors in Addressing Behavioral Issues
Collaborative Approaches with Parents in Behavior Interventions
Culturally Responsive Behavior Interventions
Inclusive Extracurricular Activities for Students with Behavioral Disorders

Gifted Education Research Topics For Special Education

Differentiated Instruction for Gifted Students
Social-Emotional Needs of Gifted Students
Acceleration Strategies in Gifted Education
Mentoring Programs for Gifted Students
Creativity and Critical Thinking in Gifted Education
Addressing Underrepresentation in Gifted Education Programs
Parental Support for Gifted Students
Inquiry-Based Learning for Gifted Students
Dual Enrollment Opportunities for Gifted Students
Talent Development Programs in Special Education

Speech and Language Disorders Research Topics For Special Education

Early Intervention for Speech and Language Delays
Augmentative and Alternative Communication (AAC) for Non-Verbal Students
Classroom Strategies for Supporting Language Development
Collaborative Approaches with Speech-Language Pathologists
Literacy Interventions for Students with Language Disorders
Cultural Competence in Speech and Language Services
Technology-Based Approaches for Speech Therapy
Parental Involvement in Speech and Language Interventions
Social Communication Skills for Students with Language Disorders
Assessing and Addressing Pragmatic Language Skills

Emotional and Behavioral Disorders (EBD) Research Topics For Special Education

Trauma-Informed Practices in Special Education
Collaborative Approaches with Mental Health Professionals
Self-Regulation Strategies for Students with Emotional Disorders
Building Resilience in Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
Bullying Prevention in Special Education Settings
Social-Emotional Learning Curriculum for Students with EBD
Restorative Justice Approaches for Students with EBD
Family Therapy for Students with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders
The Role of Positive Peer Relationships in EBD Interventions
Inclusive Extracurricular Activities for Students with EBD

Physical Disabilities Research Topics For Special Education

Adaptive Physical Education for Students with Physical Disabilities
Assistive Technology for Students with Physical Disabilities
Universal Design for Learning in Physical Education
Accessibility in School Facilities for Students with Physical Disabilities
Peer Support Programs for Students with Physical Disabilities
Transition Planning for Students with Physical Disabilities
Inclusive Extracurricular Sports for Students with Physical Disabilities
Collaborative Approaches with Physical Therapists
Parental Involvement in Physical Disability Education
Social Inclusion Strategies for Students with Physical Disabilities

Visual Impairments Research Topics For Special Education

Braille Literacy for Students with Visual Impairments
Technology-Based Tools for Students with Visual Impairments
Orientation & Mobility Training for Pupils with Visual Impairments
Inclusive Art and Music Education for Pupils with Visual Impairments
Collaboration with Orientation and Mobility Instructors
Accessible Learning Materials for Pupils with Visual Impairments
Social Skills Training for Students with Visual Impairments
Inclusive Science Education for Students with Visual Impairments
Transition Planning for Students with Visual Impairments
Building Independence Skills in Students with Visual Impairments

Hearing Impairments Research Topics For Special Education

Sign Language Instruction for Students with Hearing Impairments
Assistive Listening Devices in the Classroom
Inclusive Music Education for Students with Hearing Impairments
Collaborative Approaches with Deaf Educators
Communication Strategies for Students with Hearing Impairments
Inclusive Extracurricular Activities for Students with Hearing Impairments
Technology-Based Approaches in Hearing Impairment Education
Parental Involvement in Deaf Education Programs
Social Skills Development for Students with Hearing Impairments
Transition Planning for Students with Hearing Impairments

Multiple Disabilities Research Topics For Special Education

Holistic Approaches to Educating Students with Multiple Disabilities
Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) for Students with Multiple Disabilities
Collaborative Teamwork in Addressing Multiple Disabilities
Assistive Technology Integration for Students with Multiple Disabilities
Inclusive Extracurricular Activities for Students with Multiple Disabilities
Parental Support Networks for Families with Multiple Disabilities
Communication Strategies for Students with Multiple Disabilities
Social Skills Development for Students with Multiple Disabilities
Transition Planning for Students with Multiple Disabilities
Adaptive Physical Education for Students with Multiple Disabilities

Early Childhood Special Education Research Topics

Inclusive Practices in Early Childhood Special Education
Early Intervention for Developmental Delays in Young Children
Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Special Education Programs
Play-Based Learning for Children with Special Needs
Transition Planning from Early Childhood to Elementary School
Speech and Language Development in Early Childhood
Social-Emotional Learning in Early Childhood Special Education
Inclusive Outdoor Play for Young Children with Special Needs
Collaborative Approaches with Early Intervention Specialists
Assessment Tools for Identifying Special Needs in Early Childhood

Cultural Competence in Special Education Research Topics

Promoting Cultural Competence in Special Education Curriculum
Inclusive Practices for English Language Learners with Special Needs
Addressing Bias and Stereotypes in Special Education
Culturally Responsive Teaching for Students with Disabilities
Collaborative Approaches with Multilingual Support Staff
Parental Involvement in Diverse Special Education Communities
Celebrating Cultural Diversity in Special Education Programs
Professional Development on Cultural Competence for Educators
Inclusive Extracurricular Activities for Diverse Student Populations
Intersectionality in Special Education: Understanding Unique Challenges

Assistive Technology in Special Education Research Topics

Innovations in Assistive Technology for Special Education
Customizing Technology Tools for Individual Student Needs
Accessible E-books and Digital Resources for Special Education
Augmented Reality in Special Education Instruction
Gamification for Skill Development in Special Education
Virtual Reality Applications for Pupils with Special Needs
Training Teachers on the Effective Use of Assistive Technology
Mobile Apps for Social Skills Development in Special Education
Assistive Technology for Enhancing Communication Skills
Wearable Devices for Monitoring and Supporting Special Needs

Teacher Collaboration in Special Education Research Topics

Collaborative Team Approaches for Special Education Success
Co-Teaching Strategies for Inclusive Classrooms
Effective Communication among Special Education Professionals
Collaboration between Special Education and General Education Teachers
Building Strong Partnerships with Paraprofessionals
Team-Based Decision-Making in IEP Development
Professional Learning Communities for Special Education Educators
Cross-Disciplinary Collaboration in Special Education
Interprofessional Collaboration with Therapists and Counselors
Supporting New Teachers in Special Education through Mentoring

Policy and Advocacy in Special Education Research Topics

Advocacy for Inclusive Education Policies
Legislative Initiatives Impacting Special Education
Parental Advocacy for Children with Special Needs
Addressing Disparities in Special Education Funding
The Role of Special Education in Education Reform
Ensuring Equity in Special Education Access
Policy Implications of Remote Learning for Students with Disabilities
Advocacy for Transition Services and Post-School Outcomes
Legal Rights & Protections for Pupils with Disabilities
The Impact of Federal and State Policies on Special Education

Transition Services and Post-School Outcomes Research Topics

Transition Planning for High School Students with Disabilities
Vocational Training and Employment Opportunities for Graduates
Independent Living Skills for Young Adults with Disabilities
Post-Secondary Education Options for Students with Special Needs
Inclusive Community Participation for Young Adults with Disabilities
Mentoring Programs for Transitioning Students with Disabilities
Collaborative Approaches with Vocational Rehabilitation Services
Self-Advocacy and Self-Determination in Transition Planning
Parental Involvement in Transition Services
Assessing the Effectiveness of Transition Programs

Mental Health and Well-being in Special Education Research Topics

Addressing Mental Health Challenges in Special Education
Social-Emotional Learning for Students with Mental Health Needs
Collaborative Approaches with School Counselors and Psychologists
Preventing Burnout among Special Education Professionals
Building Resilience in Students with Mental Health Challenges
Parental Involvement in Mental Health Support Programs
Integrating Mindfulness Practices in Special Education
Peer Support Programs for Students with Mental Health Needs
Recognizing and Responding to Trauma in Special Education
Community Resources for Mental Health Support in Special Education

Assessment and Evaluation in Special Education Research Topics

Alternative Assessment Methods for Students with Disabilities
Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) and Goal Setting
Progress Monitoring Strategies for Special Education Students
Assessing Social-Emotional Development in Special Education
Standardized Testing Adaptations for Students with Disabilities
Teacher Training on Fair and Inclusive Assessment Practices
Collaborative Approaches in Multidisciplinary Assessments
Parental Involvement in the Assessment Process
Addressing Bias in Special Education Assessment Tools
Utilizing Technology for Dynamic Assessments in Special Education

Social Inclusion in Special Education Research Topics

Promoting Social Inclusion through School-wide Initiatives
Peer Support Programs for Social Inclusion
Celebrating Neurodiversity in School Communities
Building Positive Peer Relationships in Inclusive Classrooms
Inclusive Extracurricular Activities for Social Integration
Anti-Bullying Programs and Inclusive Education
Parental Involvement in Promoting Social Inclusion
Student-led Initiatives for Inclusive School Culture
Cultural Competence in Fostering Social Inclusion
Assessing and Improving Social Inclusion Practices in Special Education

So, these are the research topics for special education that cover a wide range of areas within special education, providing research opportunities that can contribute to improving educational practices and outcomes for students with special needs.

Current Challenges in Special Education

Here are some current challenges in special education:

Identification and Assessment

Accurately identifying students with disabilities and conducting appropriate assessments can be complex and controversial. There are concerns about over-identification or under-identification of certain groups.

Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

Developing, implementing, and updating effective IEPs for each student can be time-consuming and complex. Disagreements between parents and schools about IEP goals and services are expected.

Least Restrictive Environment

Determining the right balance between inclusive general education settings and separate unique education settings is ongoing. There are debates around mainstreaming and inclusion approaches.

Discipline and Behavioral Issues

Students with disabilities tend to have higher rates of disciplinary actions. Appropriate behavioral interventions and maintaining a positive school climate are challenges.

Transition to Adulthood

Helping students transition from high school to higher education, employment, and independent living requires extensive planning and support. Outcomes for students with disabilities after high school need improvement.

Parental Involvement

Getting parents actively engaged in their child’s special education program and setting appropriate expectations can be difficult for schools. Cultural and language barriers may exist.

Teacher Shortages

There is a shortage of completely certified special education teachers. Providing adequate training and support for general education teachers with special needs students is also a concern.

Funding and Resources

Special education requires substantial financial resources, trained staff, assistive technology, and other supports. Inequities often exist between wealthy and poorer districts.

How To Choose the Good Special Education Research Topic

Here are some tips for choosing a good special education research topic:

Pick a specific learning disability or developmental disorder to focus on. Researching one condition like dyslexia, ADHD, or autism will allow you to study it more deeply.
Look at topics related to current laws and policies that impact special education. Researching how these laws affect students and teachers could provide helpful information.
Study inclusion practices and their effects. How integrating special needs students through buddy programs and inclusive classrooms works.
Explore assistive technologies. Investigate how technology tools like learning apps, reading software, and accessible devices improve outcomes.
Evaluate how schools prepare special needs students for life after graduation. This includes independent living and finding careers.
Research how to improve teacher training to meet diverse learning needs. This could have high practical value.
Consider solutions that make learning accessible for all students. This aligns with special education values.
Carefully select research methods that fit your topic and population. This could include case studies, surveys, or data analysis.

The key is picking a specific, well-defined topic that tackles real issues and solutions. Consulting advisors can help narrow your focus. Using plain language will make your research clear and understandable.

Final Remarks

In conclusion, researching and addressing the diverse challenges in special education is crucial for creating inclusive, effective learning environments for students with disabilities. The extensive research topics presented here cover critical areas, from inclusive education practices to mental health support and transition services.

Ongoing research is pivotal in improving teaching methods, identifying disabilities early, and enhancing the educational experience. Despite progress, challenges such as accurate identification, IEP development, and resource disparities persist.

By fostering collaboration, advocating for policy changes, and investing in teacher training, we can work towards a more equitable and supportive particular education system, ensuring every pupil has the opportunity to succeed.

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New research review questions the evidence for special education inclusion

Please try again

Student at a desk writing with a pencil. Shown from back.

For the past 25 years, U.S. policy has urged schools to keep students with disabilities in the same classrooms with their general education peers unless severe disabilities prevent it. It seems a humane policy not to wall off those with disabilities and keep them apart from society. Who would argue against it?

Schools have embraced inclusion. According to the most recent data from 2020-21 school year, two thirds of the 7 million students with disabilities who receive special education services spent 80% or more of their time in traditional classrooms. Separation is less common today; only one out of every eight students with disabilities was taught separately in a special-needs only environment most of the time.

But a recent international analysis of all the available research on special education inclusion found inconsistent results. Some children thrived while others did very badly in regular classrooms. Overall, students didn’t benefit academically, psychologically or socially from the practice. Math and reading scores, along with psychosocial measures, were no higher for children with disabilities who learned in general education classrooms, on average, compared to children who learned in separate special education classrooms.

“I was surprised,” said Nina Dalgaard, lead author of the inclusion study for the Campbell Collaboration , a nonprofit organization that reviews research evidence for public policy purposes. “Despite a rather large evidence base, it doesn’t appear that inclusion automatically has positive effects. To the contrary, for some children, it appears that being taught in a segregated setting is actually beneficial.”

Many disability advocates balked at the findings, published in December 2022, on social media. An influential lobbying organization, the National Center for Learning Disabilities, said it continues to believe that inclusion is beneficial for students and that this study will “not change” how the disability community advocates for students.

“Every student is different, and ‘inclusion’ for one student may look different from others. For some, it could be a classroom separate from their peers, but that is rarely the case.”

The Campbell Collaboration study is a meta-analysis, which means it is supposed to sweep up all the best research on a topic and use statistics to tell us where the preponderance of the evidence lies. Dalgaard, a senior researcher at VIVE—The Danish Centre for Social Science Research, initially found over 2,000 studies on special education inclusion. But she threw out 99 percent of them, many of which were quite favorable to inclusion. Most were qualitative studies that described students’ experiences in an inclusion classroom but didn’t rigorously track academic progress. Among those that did monitor math or reading, many of them simply noted how much students improved in an inclusive setting, but didn’t compare those gains with how students might have otherwise fared in a separate special-needs only setting.

Fewer than 100 studies had comparison groups, but still most of those didn’t make the cut because the students in inclusive settings were vastly different from those in separate settings. Special education is a particularly difficult area to study because researchers cannot randomly assign students with disabilities to different treatments. Schools tend to keep children with milder disabilities in a regular classroom and teach only those with the most severe disabilities separately. In comparing how both groups fare, it should be no surprise that students with milder disabilities outperform those with more severe disabilities. But that’s not good evidence that inclusion is better. “It’s a serious, confounding bias,” Dalgaard said.

In the end, Dalgaard was left with only 15 studies where the severity of the disability was somehow noted so that she could compare apples to apples. These 15 studies covered more than 7,000 students, ages six through 16, across nine countries. Four of the studies were conducted in the United States with the others in Europe.

The disabilities in the studies ranged widely, from the most common ones, such as dyslexia, ADHD, speech impairments and autism, to rarer ones, such as Down syndrome and cerebral palsy. Some students had mild versions; others had more severe forms. I asked Dalgaard if she found clues in the results as to which disabilities were more conducive to inclusion. I was curious if children with severe dyslexia, for example, might benefit from separate instruction with specially trained reading teachers for the first couple of years after diagnosis.

Dalgaard said there wasn’t enough statistical evidence to untangle when inclusion is most beneficial. But she did notice in the underlying studies that students with autism seem to be better off in a separate setting. For example, their psychosocial scores were higher. But more studies would be needed to confirm this.

She also noticed that how a school goes about including students with disabilities mattered. In schools that used a co-teaching model, one regular teacher and one trained in special education, students fared better in inclusion classrooms. Again, more research is needed to confirm this statistically. And, even if co-teaching proves to be effective over multiple studies, not every school can afford to hire two teachers for every classroom. It’s particularly cost-prohibitive in middle and high school as teachers specialize in subjects.

Instead, Dalgaard noted that inclusion is often a cost-cutting practice because schools save money when they no longer run separate classrooms or schools for children with disabilities. “In some cases, children with disabilities no longer had access to the same resources. It’s not supposed to happen this way, but it does in some places,” said Dalgaard. “That is probably why the results of the meta-analysis show that some children actually learn more in segregated settings.”

I was surprised to learn from Dalgaard that no sound meta-analysis has found “clear” benefits for special education inclusion. Indeed, previous meta-analyses have found exactly the same inconsistent or very small positive results, she said. This latest Campbell Collaboration study was commissioned to see if newer research, published from 2000 to September 2021, would move the dial. It did not.

As a nation, we spend an estimated $90 billion a year in federal, state and local taxpayer funds on educating children with disabilities. We ought to know more about how to best help them learn.

*Correction: This story has been updated with the correct spelling of Lindsay Kubatzky’s name.

This story about special education inclusion was produced by The Hechinger Report, a nonprofit, independent news organization focused on inequality and innovation in education. Sign up for the Hechinger newsletter .

Home > School, College, or Department > College of Education > Special Education > Dissertations and Theses

Special Education Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Improving Peer-to-Peer Learning for Students with Extensive Support Needs in Inclusive Classrooms , Zachary Michael Deets (Dissertation)

Behavior Training for Educators: What Training do Educators Need to Support Students with Challenging Behaviors? , Michelle R. Milburn (Dissertation)

Beyond First Thoughts: Understanding the Essence of Equitable Decision-Making, A Phenomenological Study, White Practitioners as Equitable Educational Decision-Makers , Zinnia Un (Dissertation)

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

An Examination of Educator Perspectives on Career and College Pathways for Black, Indigenous, and Students of Color with Disabilities , Rachel Anne Herrick (Dissertation)

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

"It's Not by Accident": Examining Leadership Efforts to Disrupt Oregon's Segregated K-12 Education System , Michael Eric Salitore (Dissertation)

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Inclusion for Speech-Language Pathology Minority Graduate Students , Teresa Michelle Roberts (Dissertation)

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Early Intervention Referral Outcomes for Children at Increased Risk of Experiencing Developmental Delays , Kristi Laurine Atkins (Dissertation)

Impact of Professional Development on Accessible Early Literacy Content for Preschool Children with Disabilities in Public Library Storytime , Melissa Pebly (Dissertation)

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

The Impact of Online Professional Development on the Assessment Efficacy of Novice Itinerant Teachers of Students with Multiple Disabilities Including Visual Impairments , Jacqulyn Anne Donnenwirth Daniels (Dissertation)

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

A Phenomenological Study of the Lived Experiences of Parents of Young Children with Autism Receiving Special Education Services , Donna Marie Barrow (Dissertation)

A Brief Intervention to Increase the Use of Precorrection and Praise by Elementary School Teachers , Dustin Bindreiff (Dissertation)

The Voices of Special Educators: How Do Special Educators Teach English Language Learners Who are Receiving Special Education Services? , Elizabeth Ann DuBois (Dissertation)

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

An Investigation of School-Based Specific Learning Disability Identification , Bonnie Heather Bartos (Dissertation)

Desirable Conversations: Sexuality and Women with Intellectual Disabilities , Neera Malhotra (Dissertation)

An Examination of School Readiness: How Is the Construct Defined for Children Who Are Blind? , Lisa Joann McConachie (Dissertation)

The Efficacy and Feasibility of a Context-Specific Autism Behavior Rating Tool with Real Time Data Collection Methods from the Perspectives of Clinicians, Educators, and Parents , Kathleen Marie Panaccione (Dissertation)

Exploring the Impact of an LD Diagnosis on the Self-Determination of Women in Poverty , Cynthia Jakes Stadel (Dissertation)

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Adjustment to College among Lower Division Students with Disabilities: An Exploratory Study , Kristy Lee Ann McNulty (Dissertation)

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

The Effect of Teacher-Identified Classroom Management , Monica Rose Root (Thesis)

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

Early Childhood Inclusion: Teacher Perception of the Supports Needed to Fully Include Children with Special Needs , Meredith Villines (Thesis)

Theses/Dissertations from 2008 2008

The Use and Interpretation of the Batería III With U.S. Bilinguals , Julie Esparza Brown (Dissertation)

Theses/Dissertations from 1979 1979

An Evaluation of a Data-Based Sex Education Training Program for Mentally Retarded Adults , Patricia Ann Riley (Thesis)

Theses/Dissertations from 1972 1972

The Effects of Perceptual-Motor Training on the Perceptual-Motor Skills of Emotionally Disturbed Children , Karen R. Brown (Thesis)

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Special Education Website

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The Hechinger Report

Covering Innovation & Inequality in Education

PROOF POINTS: New research review questions the evidence for special education inclusion

Jill Barshay SENIOR REPORTER

(212)... More by Jill Barshay

Letters to the Editor

At The Hechinger Report, we publish thoughtful letters from readers that contribute to the ongoing discussion about the education topics we cover. Please read our guidelines for more information. We will not consider letters that do not contain a full name and valid email address. You may submit news tips or ideas here without a full name, but not letters.

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re: https://hechingerreport.org/proof-ponts-new-research-review-questions-the-evidence-for-special-education-inclusion/ Ref: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cl2.1291 The effects of inclusion on academic achievement, socioemotional development and wellbeing of children with special educational needs

Jill Barshay, Hechinger Reports cc Dr. Nina Dalgaard

It is important to conduct periodic meta-analysis of topics related to public policy, funding and other aspects of education.

I disagree with the reporting by Jill Bashay regarding special education learner inclusion/exclusion.

The reason for my disagreement is that the referenced study authors report contains the authors’ data collection and meta-analysis conclusions (see below) that valid information for meta-analysis is inadequate. My read of the Dalgaard met-analysis report suggests that the two extremes – full inclusion or full exclusion – of SEN students in the ‘normal’ population may be harmful but is really unknown. Therefore, until more and better research is achieved, some logical blend of inclusion/exclusion can be designed and implemented to achieve learning and social integration objectives. My opinion comes from leading manufacturing ventures that have intentionally accommodated “SEN” adults successfully in ways that give them personal work settings along with collaborative opportunities. The emotional intelligence for diversity, equity and inclusion is, I believe, better achieved by starting in the K-12 system.

Larry Gebhardt Ph.D., Captain US Navy (Retired) Pocatello, Idaho

Data Collection and Analysis The total number of potentially relevant studies constituted 20,183 hits. A total of 94 studies met the inclusion criteria, all were non-randomised studies. The 94 studies analysed data from 19 different countries. Only 15 studies could be used in the data synthesis. Seventy-nine studies could not be used in the data synthesis as they were judged to be of critical risk of bias and, in accordance with the protocol, were excluded from the meta-analysis on the basis that they would be more likely to mislead than inform. The 15 studies came from nine different countries. Separate meta-analyses were conducted on conceptually distinct outcomes. All analyses were inverse variance weighted using random effects statistical models. Sensitivity analyses were performed to evaluate the robustness of pooled effect sizes across components of risk of bias.

Authors’ Conclusions The overall methodological quality of the included studies was low, and no experimental studies in which children were randomly assigned to intervention and control conditions were found. The 15 studies, which could be used in the data synthesis, were all, except for one, judged to be in serious risk of bias. Results of the meta-analyses do not suggest on average any sizeable positive or negative effects of inclusion on children’s academic achievement as measured by language, literacy, and math outcomes or on the overall psychosocial adjustment of children. The average point estimates favoured inclusion, though small and not statistically significant, heterogeneity was present in all analyses, and there was inconsistency in direction and magnitude of the effect sizes. This finding is similar to the results of previous meta-analyses, which include studies published before 2000, and thus although the number of studies in the current meta-analyses is limited, it can be concluded that it is very unlikely that inclusion in general increases or decreases learning and psychosocial adjustment in children with special needs. Future research should explore the effects of different kinds of inclusive education for children with different kinds of special needs, to expand the knowledge base on what works for whom.

Of course inclusion, just in general, doesn’t increase outcomes. Just like exclusion, just in general, doesn’t help anyone. So many other things have to be true. What the kids and adults are actually doing when they are being ‘included,’ matters the most. Is there one general education teacher with 25 kids and kids with disabilities are just in class receiving whole group instruction without any targeted supports? Is there a strong co-teaching model led by two content experts with most time spent in small groups? Is the special educator a content expert? If you think about what is true about a self-contained classroom that would, arguably, be better for a student, those things can be replicated within a general education setting. As a school leader, professor, former self-contained, and inclusion teacher, there is no arguing with the notion that a non-verbal student with autism is NOT categorically better off in an autism classroom than in an inclusion classroom with strong language models. The structure of the classroom and the roles of adults have to be strategically designed so that kids benefit from any classroom structure, inclusion or otherwise. I have trained hundreds of school leaders all across the country and have learned that most schools don’t know how to do inclusion well. Let’s talk about that.

I am in total agreement with Tony Barton’s comment. Jill Barshay’s article reinforced what we know: that the right set-up plays a critical role in the outcome. Therefore, since there are so few properly conducted studies, we must focus our attention to ensure that our students with disabilities are all in settings that are conducive to progress in all domains- academically, psychologically and socially. Ensuring all our educators are properly trained is the first step. I have also found that I will create the learning environment for each struggling student based on the current conditions – and include each student’s personality traits as part of the assessment done to determine where the student will truly feel best and progress most. This is similar to a general statement regarding pain. One can never compare his pain to another since pain is physiological and cannot be measured via comparison. Since the personality and individual abilities of the student, teacher, assistant and special educator all will impact the student’s outcome- it is hard to measure and determine where success is most feasible without being aware of all variables. I agree that most schools don’t know how to do inclusion well- or don’t have the staff to properly support it. This article is great in raising our collective awareness of why the Campbell Study couldn’t be more targeted and concise with its results and what we can do to support our students best.

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Digital Commons @ USF > Theses and Dissertations

Special Education Theses and Dissertations

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Saudi Parents as Advocates for Their Young Children with Disabilities: Reflections on The Journey , Sadeem A. Alolayan

Theses/Dissertations from 2022 2022

Graduate Teaching Assistants’ Knowledge and Attitudes Toward Students with Disabilities in Higher Education , Yanlys De La Caridad Palacios

The Specifics of Specific Learning Disability: An Analysis of State-Level Eligibility Criteria and Response to Intervention Practices , Lora M. Williams

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Barriers to Reducing the Assistive Technology use for Students with Autism as Perceived by Special Education Teachers in Saudi Arabia , Othman Ahmed Alasmari

Saudi Teachers’ Perspectives on Implementing Evidence-Based Practices Specifically Designed for Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Ahmad Saad Alghamdi

Perceptions of Preservice Teachers of Students with Intellectual Disabilities About their Preparation for Inclusive Education , Abdullah Aljudaya

Experiences of Saudi Arabian Mothers of Young Children with Disabilities: An Exploratory Study , Samirah Bahkali

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Perceptions of Preservice Teachers of Students with Autism and Intellectual Disabilities in their Teacher Preparation Programs in Saudi Arabia , Salman Almughyiri

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

The Use of Assistive Technology with Students with Severe Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities in Saudi Arabia: Teachers’ Perspectives , Khalid Mohammed Abu Alghayth

Saudi Special Education Preservice Teachers’ Perspective towards Inclusion , Sarah Binmahfooz

The Teacher Evaluation Conundrum: Examining the Perceptions of Special Education Teachers , Gordon Brobbey

Autism and Inclusion in England’s Multi Academy Trust: A Case Study of a Senior Leadership Team , Danielle Lane

Threats to Teaching: An Investigation Into the Constructs of Compassion Fatigue in the Classroom , April M. Steen

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

General Education Teachers’ Perceptions of Response to Intervention Implementation: A Qualitative Interview Study , Adhwaa Alahmari

Deaf Lesbian Identity , Noël E. Cherasaro

Beyond Replicative Technology: The Digital Practices of Students with Literacy-Related Learning Difficulties Engaged in Productive Technologies , Aimee Frier

Learning in the Margins: The Educational Experiences of an African American Male with Disabilities , Aisha Holmes

Including children with learning differences: Experiences of independent school teachers , Lisa M. Lockhart

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Perceptions of Arab American Mothers of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder: An Exploratory Study , Haifa Alsayyari

It’s Not All Sunflowers and Roses at Home: A Narrative Inquiry of At-Risk Girls and Their Perceptions of Their Educational Experiences , Jessica Aggeles Curtis

Improving Reading Comprehension of Children with ASD: Implication of Anaphoric Reference Support with Computer Programming , Seda Karayazi Ozsayin

Collaboration with Families: Perceptions of Special Education Preservice Teachers and Teacher Preparation , Mehmet Emin Ozturk

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

The Role of Prep Schools in the Middle to High School Transition of Students in Southeastern Turkey , Mucahit Kocak

Use of a Game-Based App as a Learning Tool for Students with Mathematics Learning Disabilities to Increase Fraction Knowledge/Skill , Orhan Simsek

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Examining Experiences of Early Intervention Providers Serving Culturally Diverse Families: A Multiple Case Study Analysis , Wendy Lea Bradshaw

Restricted and Repetitive Behaviors as Strengths, not Weaknesses: Evaluating the Use of Social Stories that Embed Restricted Interests on the Social Skills of Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Maya Nasr

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

The Fight Within: Experiences of School District Employees Who Advocate for the Rights of Their Own Children with Disabilities Inside the Districts Where They Work, a Heuristic Case Study , Keri Haley

Constructing an "Appropriate" Education in Florida Special Education Due Process Final Orders , Michelle Henry

Interagency Collaboration for the Provision of Services to Migrant Children with Disabilities: An Exploratory Study , Georgina Rivera-Singletary

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

Reading Assessment Practices of Elementary General Education Teachers: A Descriptive Study , Sarah Mirlenbrink Bombly

Making a Difference in the Lives of Students: Successful Teachers of Students of Color with Disabilities or who are At-Risk of Identification of Disabilities at a High-Performing High-Poverty School , Tristan L. Glenn

Teacher Perspectives on the Instructional Impact of the Florida Alternate Assessment , Katherine Hawley

Blending Worlds, Reforming Practice?: An Instrumental Case Study Of Collaborative Early Childhood Teacher Education , Ann Marie Mickelson

The Perspectives of Graduate Students with Visual Disabilities: A Heuristic Case Study , Luis Perez

Connective Capacity: The Importance and Influence of Dispositions in Special Education Teacher Education , Scot Mcgregor Rademaker

Examining School Capacity for Inclusion Using a Multi-Dimensional Framework: A Case Study , Amy Lenee-Monnier Toson

Becoming a Teacher in Multiple Voices: An Exploration of Teacher Identity Formation Among Teachers of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Mary E. Wilt

Theses/Dissertations from 2012 2012

A Multi-Perspective Exploration of a Cross-Age Tutoring Initiative: An Analysis of the Responses of All Students , Ann Elizabeth Gillies

Examining Teacher Identity and Prospective Efficacy Beliefs Among Students Enrolled in a Precollegiate Urban Teaching Academy (UTA) , Marsha Simon

Theses/Dissertations from 2011 2011

Preservice Teachers' Perceptions of their Perspective Transformations: A Case Study , Victoria Caruana

The Development of The Personal Strengths Intervention (PSI) to Improve Self-Determination and Social-Emotional Levels in Postsecondary Students with Learning Disabilities and/or ADHD: A Multiple Baseline Study , Jennie L. Farmer

Kujichagalia! Self-Determination in Young African American Women With Disabilities during the Transition Process , La Tonya L. Gillis

Perspectives of Teachers of Students with Autism Spectrum Disorders Regarding the Factors Related to Their Intent to Remain in the Profession , Glenda Esther Koshy

High Stakes Play: Early Childhood Special Educators' Perspectives of Play in Pre-Kindergarten Classrooms , Joanne Scandling Manwaring

School-Wide PBS: The Link Between Action Planning and Outcomes , Stephanie Angelique Martinez

Guided by the Spirit: Understanding Student Behavior and Theological Philosophy Through the Lens of Secondary Catholic School Teachers , Angela Marie Mucci

It Takes More Than a Whistle: Perceived Characteristics of Effective School Based Coaches , Jenna Nicole Sage

Examining the Experiences of a Select Group of First Year Special Education Teachers: A Multiple Case Study Analysis , Roseanne Kaiser Vallice

Theses/Dissertations from 2010 2010

A Canine Audience: The Effect of Animal-Assisted Therapy on Reading Progress Among Students Identified with Learning Disabilities , Julie Omodio Griess

The Lived School Experiences of a Select Group of Female Adolescents Labeled Emotionally/Behaviorally Disordered , Anna Robic

Theses/Dissertations from 2009 2009

Lived Experience: Diverse Perspectives on Raising a Child with Autism , Heather J. Brace

An examination of the implementation of the Second step program in a public school system , Lynn Pedraza

Portraits of Online Teaching and Learning: The Experiences of an Instructor and Six Graduate Students in a Course Entitled Educating Students with Autism , Sarah R. Semon

Striving and Surviving: The Phenomenology of the First-Year Teaching Experience , Michael D. Smith

Theses/Dissertations from 2008 2008

Transition Experiences of Selected Emerging Adults With Emotional and Behavioral Difficulties in Higher Education , Kathleen M. Fowler

A Qualitative Analysis of a Teacher Support Program for Educating Students with Emotional Disturbance in an Inclusive Setting , Crystal Williams Harmon

Evaluating the Efficacy of the Developing Algebraic Literacy Model: Preparing Special Educators to Implement Effective Mathematics Practices , Sharon N. E. Ray

Theses/Dissertations from 2007 2007

The Effects of Mentoring on the Elementary Special Education Mentor , Maria Angeliadis

Prevalence of Language Disorders Among Children with Severe Behavioral Problems Referred for a Psychiatric Evaluation by a Large Urban School District , Brenda J. Curtwright

Implementing differentiated instruction in urban, Title I schools:: Effects of facilitated support groups and program fidelity on student achievement , Deborah W. Hellman

Key stakeholder perceptions of the expulsion process for high school students identified as emotionally disturbed , Suzanne R. O'Neill

Theses/Dissertations from 2006 2006

An examination of the experiences of five African American male students with regard to school discipline practices , Simon Yohann Earle

Examining the characteristics of teachers in a Master of Arts in Teaching (MAT) program in varying exceptionalities: Responding to the "highly qualified" teacher mandate , Erica Djuan McCray

Theses/Dissertations from 2005 2005

"I've Got the Power!": Investigating Pre-service Special Educators' Perceptions and Abilities to Teach Reading to Students with Disabilities" , Tandria Milango Callins

Evaluating Positive Behavior Support Plan Implementation In The Home Environment Of Young Children With Challenging Behavior , Michelle A. Duda

Asperger Syndrome: A Case Study on One Family’s Understanding , Ben Graffam

An Examination Of The Relationship Between Urbanicity and Children With Emotional Disturbances Served In Restructuring Public Schools , Karen Monk Harris

Voices From a Marginalized Population: Life Histories of Individuals With Physical Impairments , James Peter Marsh

The Effects of Hand Fidgets on the On-Task Behaviors of A Middle School Student With Disabilities in an Inclusive Academic Setting , Karen S. Voytecki

Theses/Dissertations from 2004 2004

Speech-Language Pathologists’ Professional Efficacy Beliefs about Assessing the Language Skills of Bilingual/Bicultural/Bidialectal Students , Karen Patricia Harris

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Theses and Dissertations - Special Education

Theses/dissertations from 2023 2023.

Understanding Administrative Support from the Perspective of Special Educators , Morgan M. Glasson

Efficacy and Outcome Beliefs of General and Special Education Teachers Working with Culturally Linguistically Diverse Students with Disabilities , Jennifer L. Hastings

Transition Planning and the School to Prison Pipeline: a Phenomenological Study Investigating the Lived Experiences of Alternatively Placed High School Black Males with High Incidence Disabilities , Brandon Garrett Thornton

Training Caregivers of Young Children Who Are Deaf / Hard of Hearing To Implement Communication Facilitation Strategies , Rachel Lynn Wells

Theses/Dissertations from 2021 2021

Factors Associated with Parent Involvement for African American Youth with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities: Findings from the Nlts-2012 , LaTonya J. Harris

Special Education Preservice Teachers Culturally Responsive Teaching Self-Efficacy: a Mixed Methods Study , Krystal Lewis-Pratl

Exploring African American Vernacular English and Disproportionality in Special Education , Camille O'Quin

Theses/Dissertations from 2020 2020

Factors That Influence Parent Communication Decisions for Their Deaf or Hard of Hearing Child in Illinois , Karla A. Giese

Orientation and Mobility Service Decisions: What Is Guiding Them if It Is Not Assessment? , Lauralyn Kay Randles

Being Black while Leading: a Mixed Methods Study of Black Administrators' Experiences in U.s. Public Schools , Latasha Marie Schraeder

Special Education Pre-service Teachers’ Perceptions of Cooperating Teachers’ Co-teaching Relationships: a Qualitative Study , Christianna N. Vehlow

Theses/Dissertations from 2019 2019

Knowledge, Concerns, and Interventions Related to D / Deaf English Learners , Molly Beth Turner

Theses/Dissertations from 2018 2018

Communication between Home and School for Parents of Children with Chronic Illness , Keri Edwards

Deaf / Hard of Hearing Preschool Students’ Acquisition of Language through Dyadic and Triadic Communication Contexts , Molly S. Herman

Teaching Students with Developmental Disabilities To Sequence Academic Content Using Video Modeling and Constant Time Delay via an Ipad Application , Allison Marie Kroesch

Young Adults with Visual Impairments and Driver's Education: Journeys of Self-Efficacy, Identity, and Transition to Adulthood , Molly Pasley

Theses/Dissertations from 2017 2017

Caregivers' and Professionals' Perceptions on Collaboration in Early Intervention , Sara J. Edwards

Teachers' Perceptions of Addressing Leisure in Curriculum for Students with Severe Disabilities , Kara Klepp

A Qualitative Investigation of Secondary General Education Teachers' Perspectives on Their Involvement in Transition Services , Stephen M. Kwiatek

Computer-Mediated Communication Usage and Perceptions amongst Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorder , Laura A. Massier

Measuring the Longitudinal Communication Growth of Learners Who Are Deafblind , Kristi M. Probst

Investigating Trust Relationships between Special Education Teachers and Their Principals and Special Education Directors , William D. Roseland

The Effects of Text-to-Speech on Reading Comprehension of Students with Learning Disabilities , Mary Cece Young

Theses/Dissertations from 2016 2016

Social Positioning: Positioning Adults with Severe and Multiple Disabilities and Complex Communication Needs for Social Interaction , Dena Bonnike

Understanding the Self-Efficacy Beliefs of Preservice Learning and Behavioral Specialists during Their Practicum, Field-Based, and Student Teaching Semesters , Alice S. Cahill

Educators' Perceptions of the Importance and Intensity of Supports in the General Education Classroom for Students with Individualized Education Plans , Stephanie N. DeSpain

Parent-Implemented Intervention Using an Ipad To Enhance Expressive Language in Young Children , Yvette Renee Evans

Effects of a Self-Advocacy Intervention on the Ability of High School Students with High Incidence Disabilities To Advocate for Academic Accommodations , Nancy J. Lopez

Elementary General Education Teachers' Perspectives towards the Inclusion of Students with Emotional Disturbances , Leona E. O'Dear

Theses/Dissertations from 2015 2015

Delivering the Parent-Implemented Communication Strategies ( Pics ) Intervention Using Distance Training and Coaching with a Father and His Child Who Is Hard of Hearing , Marc Daczewitz

Effects of Explicit Reading Comprehension Strategy Instruction for English Learners with Specific Learning Disabilities , Sara Lynn Jozwik

Rural High School Special Education Teachers' Perceptions Related to Structured Work Experiences , Abigail Meghan Christina Lies

Perceptions of the Roles of Paraprofessionals and Other Support Strategies To Assist Students with Disabilities in the General Education Classroom , Chrystyna Eliashevsky Sroka

Theses/Dissertations from 2014 2014

Evaluating Factors That Influence Treatment Integrity during Peer Consultation , Jennifer Ann Arms

The Effect of Metalinguistic Strategy Instruction on the Oral and Written Expression of School-Aged Children , Karen Lara Dudek

Exploratory Study of the Perspectives of Midlife Adults with Intellectual Disability, Their Parents, and Case Managers Regarding Quality of Life and Needed Supports and Services , Jane L. Lurquin

The Effect of Self-Monitoring on Academic Engagement of Students with Emotional Disturbance , Clayton Theisinger

Theses/Dissertations from 2013 2013

An Examination of Student Perceptions of Regional Safe School and Public School Services , Elizabeth Degruy

Leadership for Equity in Education: Perceptions of Disability Studies Concepts by Directors of Special Education , Andrea P. Dinaro

Understanding the Support Needs of People with Intellectual and Related Developmental Disabilities through Cluster Analysis and Factor Analysis of Statewide Data , Yuwadee Viriyangkura

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Special education teacher perspective on implementation of assistive technology among students with high-incidence disabilities.

Olga Volkov , Liberty University Follow

School of Education

Doctor of Philosophy in Education (PhD)

Alexandra Barnett

assistive technology, special education, high-incidence disabilities, phenomenology

Disciplines

Special Education and Teaching

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Volkov, Olga, "Special Education Teacher Perspective on Implementation of Assistive Technology among Students with High-incidence Disabilities" (2024). Doctoral Dissertations and Projects . 5559. https://digitalcommons.liberty.edu/doctoral/5559

The purpose of this hermeneutic phenomenological study was to describe the experiences of implementing assistive technology with students who have high-incidence disabilities for special education teachers at a large school district. The theory guiding this study was Bandura’s self-efficacy theory. Self-efficacy is one’s belief in one’s capabilities to organize a course of action to achieve a desired outcome. Self-efficacy determines how individuals think, behave, and self-motivate. Previous studies that investigated technology utilization in schools found that teachers’ self-efficacy is one of the key factors in determining and predicting technology integration. The study employed hermeneutic phenomenology as its research methodology. A central question of the study is what are the lived experiences of special education teachers who implement Assistive Technology (AT) with students who have high-incidence disabilities. The study was conducted in a diverse school district serving more than 9,000 special education students. The district also provides all special education teachers AT training and has significant resources to address the needs of students with high-incidence disabilities. The data sources were interviews, focus groups with special educators, and documents. The data were analyzed using van Manen’s hermeneutic phenomenology approach. Eight themes were generated. The themes were Differences in AT Implementation Depending on Students’ Age, Technical Difficulties, Conflicting Demands in Special Education, Students’ Technology-Related Operational Skills, Coaching, Feedback, Fear, and Work-Life Balance. The data analysis revealed empirical, practical, and theoretical implications along with recommendations for future research.

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How Does Writing Fit Into the ‘Science of Reading’?

In one sense, the national conversation about what it will take to make sure all children become strong readers has been wildly successful: States are passing legislation supporting evidence-based teaching approaches , and school districts are rushing to supply training. Publishers are under pressure to drop older materials . And for the first time in years, an instructional issue—reading—is headlining education media coverage.

In the middle of all that, though, the focus on the “science of reading” has elided its twin component in literacy instruction: writing.

Writing is intrinsically important for all students to learn—after all, it is the primary way beyond speech that humans communicate. But more than that, research suggests that teaching students to write in an integrated fashion with reading is not only efficient, it’s effective.

Yet writing is often underplayed in the elementary grades. Too often, it is separated from schools’ reading block. Writing is not assessed as frequently as reading, and principals, worried about reading-exam scores, direct teachers to focus on one often at the expense of the other. Finally, beyond the English/language arts block, kids often aren’t asked to do much writing in early grades.

“Sometimes, in an early-literacy classroom, you’ll hear a teacher say, ‘It’s time to pick up your pencils,’” said Wiley Blevins, an author and literacy consultant who provides training in schools. “But your pencils should be in your hand almost the entire morning.”

Strikingly, many of the critiques that reading researchers have made against the “balanced literacy” approach that has held sway in schools for decades could equally apply to writing instruction: Foundational writing skills—like phonics and language structure—have not generally been taught systematically or explicitly.

And like the “find the main idea” strategies commonly taught in reading comprehension, writing instruction has tended to focus on content-neutral tasks, rather than deepening students’ connections to the content they learn.

Education Week wants to bring more attention to these connections in the stories that make up this special collection . But first, we want to delve deeper into the case for including writing in every step of the elementary curriculum.

Why has writing been missing from the reading conversation?

Much like the body of knowledge on how children learn to read words, it is also settled science that reading and writing draw on shared knowledge, even though they have traditionally been segmented in instruction.

“The body of research is substantial in both number of studies and quality of studies. There’s no question that reading and writing share a lot of real estate, they depend on a lot of the same knowledge and skills,” said Timothy Shanahan, an emeritus professor of education at the University of Illinois Chicago. “Pick your spot: text structure, vocabulary, sound-symbol relationships, ‘world knowledge.’”

The reasons for the bifurcation in reading and writing are legion. One is that the two fields have typically been studied separately. (Researchers studying writing usually didn’t examine whether a writing intervention, for instance, also aided students’ reading abilities—and vice versa.)

Some scholars also finger the dominance of the federally commissioned National Reading Panel report, which in 2000 outlined key instructional components of learning to read. The review didn’t examine the connection of writing to reading.

Looking even further back yields insights, too. Penmanship and spelling were historically the only parts of writing that were taught, and when writing reappeared in the latter half of the 20th century, it tended to focus on “process writing,” emphasizing personal experience and story generation over other genres. Only when the Common Core State Standards appeared in 2010 did the emphasis shift to writing about nonfiction texts and across subjects—the idea that students should be writing about what they’ve learned.

And finally, teaching writing is hard. Few studies document what preparation teachers receive to teach writing, but in surveys, many teachers say they received little training in their college education courses. That’s probably why only a little over half of teachers, in one 2016 survey, said that they enjoyed teaching writing.

Writing should begin in the early grades

These factors all work against what is probably the most important conclusion from the research over the last few decades: Students in the early-elementary grades need lots of varied opportunities to write.

“Students need support in their writing,” said Dana Robertson, an associate professor of reading and literacy education at the school of education at Virginia Tech who also studies how instructional change takes root in schools. “They need to be taught explicitly the skills and strategies of writing and they need to see the connections of reading, writing, and knowledge development.”

While research supports some fundamental tenets of writing instruction—that it should be structured, for instance, and involve drafting and revising—it hasn’t yet pointed to a specific teaching recipe that works best.

One of the challenges, the researchers note, is that while reading curricula have improved over the years, they still don’t typically provide many supports for students—or teachers, for that matter—for writing. Teachers often have to supplement with additions that don’t always mesh well with their core, grade-level content instruction.

“We have a lot of activities in writing we know are good,” Shanahan said. “We don’t really have a yearlong elementary-school-level curriculum in writing. That just doesn’t exist the way it does in reading.”

Nevertheless, practitioners like Blevins work writing into every reading lesson, even in the earliest grades. And all the components that make up a solid reading program can be enhanced through writing activities.

4 Key Things to Know About How Reading and Writing Interlock

Want a quick summary of what research tells us about the instructional connections between reading and writing?

1. Reading and writing are intimately connected.

Research on the connections began in the early 1980s and has grown more robust with time.

Among the newest and most important additions are three research syntheses conducted by Steve Graham, a professor at the University of Arizona, and his research partners. One of them examined whether writing instruction also led to improvements in students’ reading ability; a second examined the inverse question. Both found significant positive effects for reading and writing.

A third meta-analysis gets one step closer to classroom instruction. Graham and partners examined 47 studies of instructional programs that balanced both reading and writing—no program could feature more than 60 percent of one or the other. The results showed generally positive effects on both reading and writing measures.

2. Writing matters even at the earliest grades, when students are learning to read.

Studies show that the prewriting students do in early education carries meaningful signals about their decoding, spelling, and reading comprehension later on. Reading experts say that students should be supported in writing almost as soon as they begin reading, and evidence suggests that both spelling and handwriting are connected to the ability to connect speech to print and to oral language development.

3. Like reading, writing must be taught explicitly.

Writing is a complex task that demands much of students’ cognitive resources. Researchers generally agree that writing must be explicitly taught—rather than left up to students to “figure out” the rules on their own.

There isn’t as much research about how precisely to do this. One 2019 review, in fact, found significant overlap among the dozen writing programs studied, and concluded that all showed signs of boosting learning. Debates abound about the amount of structure students need and in what sequence, such as whether they need to master sentence construction before moving onto paragraphs and lengthier texts.

But in general, students should be guided on how to construct sentences and paragraphs, and they should have access to models and exemplars, the research suggests. They also need to understand the iterative nature of writing, including how to draft and revise.

A number of different writing frameworks incorporating various degrees of structure and modeling are available, though most of them have not been studied empirically.

4. Writing can help students learn content—and make sense of it.

Much of reading comprehension depends on helping students absorb “world knowledge”—think arts, ancient cultures, literature, and science—so that they can make sense of increasingly sophisticated texts and ideas as their reading improves. Writing can enhance students’ content learning, too, and should be emphasized rather than taking a back seat to the more commonly taught stories and personal reflections.

Graham and colleagues conducted another meta-analysis of nearly 60 studies looking at this idea of “writing to learn” in mathematics, science, and social studies. The studies included a mix of higher-order assignments, like analyses and argumentative writing, and lower-level ones, like summarizing and explaining. The study found that across all three disciplines, writing about the content improved student learning.

If students are doing work on phonemic awareness—the ability to recognize sounds—they shouldn’t merely manipulate sounds orally; they can put them on the page using letters. If students are learning how to decode, they can also encode—record written letters and words while they say the sounds out loud.

And students can write as they begin learning about language structure. When Blevins’ students are mainly working with decodable texts with controlled vocabularies, writing can support their knowledge about how texts and narratives work: how sentences are put together and how they can be pulled apart and reconstructed. Teachers can prompt them in these tasks, asking them to rephrase a sentence as a question, split up two sentences, or combine them.

“Young kids are writing these mile-long sentences that become second nature. We set a higher bar, and they are fully capable of doing it. We can demystify a bit some of that complex text if we develop early on how to talk about sentences—how they’re created, how they’re joined,” Blevins said. “There are all these things you can do that are helpful to develop an understanding of how sentences work and to get lots of practice.”

As students progress through the elementary grades, this structured work grows more sophisticated. They need to be taught both sentence and paragraph structure , and they need to learn how different writing purposes and genres—narrative, persuasive, analytical—demand different approaches. Most of all, the research indicates, students need opportunities to write at length often.

Using writing to support students’ exploration of content

Reading is far more than foundational skills, of course. It means introducing students to rich content and the specialized vocabulary in each discipline and then ensuring that they read, discuss, analyze, and write about those ideas. The work to systematically build students’ knowledge begins in the early grades and progresses throughout their K-12 experience.

Here again, available evidence suggests that writing can be a useful tool to help students explore, deepen, and draw connections in this content. With the proper supports, writing can be a method for students to retell and analyze what they’ve learned in discussions of content and literature throughout the school day —in addition to their creative writing.

This “writing to learn” approach need not wait for students to master foundational skills. In the K-2 grades especially, much content is learned through teacher read-alouds and conversation that include more complex vocabulary and ideas than the texts students are capable of reading. But that should not preclude students from writing about this content, experts say.

“We do a read-aloud or a media piece and we write about what we learned. It’s just a part of how you’re responding, or sharing, what you’ve learned across texts; it’s not a separate thing from reading,” Blevins said. “If I am doing read-alouds on a concept—on animal habitats, for example—my decodable texts will be on animals. And students are able to include some of these more sophisticated ideas and language in their writing, because we’ve elevated the conversations around these texts.”

In this set of stories , Education Week examines the connections between elementary-level reading and writing in three areas— encoding , language and text structure , and content-area learning . But there are so many more examples.

Please write us to share yours when you’ve finished.

Want to read more about the research that informed this story? Here’s a bibliography to start you off.

Berninger V. W., Abbott, R. D., Abbott, S. P., Graham S., & Richards T. (2002). Writing and reading: Connections between language by hand and language by eye. J ournal of Learning Disabilities. Special Issue: The Language of Written Language, 35(1), 39–56 Berninger, Virginia, Robert D. Abbott, Janine Jones, Beverly J. Wolf, Laura Gould, Marci Anderson-Younstrom, Shirley Shimada, Kenn Apel. (2006) “Early development of language by hand: composing, reading, listening, and speaking connections; three letter-writing modes; and fast mapping in spelling.” Developmental Neuropsychology, 29(1), pp. 61-92 Cabell, Sonia Q, Laura S. Tortorelli, and Hope K. Gerde (2013). “How Do I Write…? Scaffolding Preschoolers’ Early Writing Skills.” The Reading Teacher, 66(8), pp. 650-659. Gerde, H.K., Bingham, G.E. & Wasik, B.A. (2012). “Writing in Early Childhood Classrooms: Guidance for Best Practices.” Early Childhood Education Journal 40, 351–359 (2012) Gilbert, Jennifer, and Steve Graham. (2010). “Teaching Writing to Elementary Students in Grades 4–6: A National Survey.” The Elementary School Journal 110(44) Graham, Steve, et al. (2017). “Effectiveness of Literacy Programs Balancing Reading and Writing Instruction: A Meta-Analysis.” Reading Research Quarterly, 53(3) pp. 279–304 Graham, Steve, and Michael Hebert. (2011). “Writing to Read: A Meta-Analysis of the Impact of Writing and Writing Instruction on Reading.” Harvard Educational Review (2011) 81(4): 710–744. Graham, Steve. (2020). “The Sciences of Reading and Writing Must Become More Fully Integrated.” Reading Research Quarterly, 55(S1) pp. S35–S44 Graham, Steve, Sharlene A. Kiuhara, and Meade MacKay. (2020).”The Effects of Writing on Learning in Science, Social Studies, and Mathematics: A Meta-Analysis.” Review of Educational Research April 2020, Vol 90, No. 2, pp. 179–226 Shanahan, Timothy. “History of Writing and Reading Connections.” in Shanahan, Timothy. (2016). “Relationships between reading and writing development.” In C. MacArthur, S. Graham, & J. Fitzgerald (Eds.), Handbook of writing research (2nd ed., pp. 194–207). New York, NY: Guilford. Slavin, Robert, Lake, C., Inns, A., Baye, A., Dachet, D., & Haslam, J. (2019). “A quantitative synthesis of research on writing approaches in grades 2 to 12.” London: Education Endowment Foundation. Troia, Gary. (2014). Evidence-based practices for writing instruction (Document No. IC-5). Retrieved from University of Florida, Collaboration for Effective Educator, Development, Accountability, and Reform Center website: http://ceedar.education.ufl.edu/tools/innovation-configuration/ Troia, Gary, and Steve Graham. (2016).“Common Core Writing and Language Standards and Aligned State Assessments: A National Survey of Teacher Beliefs and Attitudes.” Reading and Writing 29(9).

A version of this article appeared in the January 25, 2023 edition of Education Week as How Does Writing Fit Into the ‘Science of Reading’?

Young writer looking at a flash card showing a picture of a dog and writing various words that begin with a "D" like dog, donut, duck and door.

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Cuba helping portland schools improve services, support for multilingual students with disabilities.

University of Maine assistant professor of special education Melissa Cuba and Adai Tefera, an associate professor of special education at the University of Arizona, have been awarded $50,000 from the William T. Grant Foundation for a collaborative study with Portland Public Schools. Their work aims to reduce administrative burdens and reimagine engagement with families of multilingual students who receive special education services in the schools.

The two year project will examine the policies and practices that lead to inequities for multilingual families and their children with disabilities. In addition, it will explore ways that immigrant and migrant families can codesign better approaches for serving their children. Another goal of the study will be to look at intersections of disability, language, immigration and migration to better understand how they contribute to administrative burdens.

Starting this fall, Cuba and Tefera will work to build connections between scholars, families and educators in Portland schools.

“We’re thrilled to have the support of the William T. Grant Foundation for this project and we look forward to working with families, educators, schools and communities to center the needs of multilingual learners in special education,” Cuba says.

Cuba and Tefera recently published a study in Teachers College Record that applied an intersectional framework to data about multilingual students with disabilities in Virginia, where Cuba completed her doctoral studies at Virginia Commonwealth University. More information about Cuba’s research is available online .

Cultural Relativity and Acceptance of Embryonic Stem Cell Research

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There is a debate about the ethical implications of using human embryos in stem cell research, which can be influenced by cultural, moral, and social values. This paper argues for an adaptable framework to accommodate diverse cultural and religious perspectives. By using an adaptive ethics model, research protections can reflect various populations and foster growth in stem cell research possibilities.

INTRODUCTION

Stem cell research combines biology, medicine, and technology, promising to alter health care and the understanding of human development. Yet, ethical contention exists because of individuals’ perceptions of using human embryos based on their various cultural, moral, and social values. While these disagreements concerning policy, use, and general acceptance have prompted the development of an international ethics policy, such a uniform approach can overlook the nuanced ethical landscapes between cultures. With diverse viewpoints in public health, a single global policy, especially one reflecting Western ethics or the ethics prevalent in high-income countries, is impractical. This paper argues for a culturally sensitive, adaptable framework for the use of embryonic stem cells. Stem cell policy should accommodate varying ethical viewpoints and promote an effective global dialogue. With an extension of an ethics model that can adapt to various cultures, we recommend localized guidelines that reflect the moral views of the people those guidelines serve.

Stem cells, characterized by their unique ability to differentiate into various cell types, enable the repair or replacement of damaged tissues. Two primary types of stem cells are somatic stem cells (adult stem cells) and embryonic stem cells. Adult stem cells exist in developed tissues and maintain the body’s repair processes. [1] Embryonic stem cells (ESC) are remarkably pluripotent or versatile, making them valuable in research. [2] However, the use of ESCs has sparked ethics debates. Considering the potential of embryonic stem cells, research guidelines are essential. The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) provides international stem cell research guidelines. They call for “public conversations touching on the scientific significance as well as the societal and ethical issues raised by ESC research.” [3] The ISSCR also publishes updates about culturing human embryos 14 days post fertilization, suggesting local policies and regulations should continue to evolve as ESC research develops. [4] Like the ISSCR, which calls for local law and policy to adapt to developing stem cell research given cultural acceptance, this paper highlights the importance of local social factors such as religion and culture.

I. Global Cultural Perspective of Embryonic Stem Cells

Views on ESCs vary throughout the world. Some countries readily embrace stem cell research and therapies, while others have stricter regulations due to ethical concerns surrounding embryonic stem cells and when an embryo becomes entitled to moral consideration. The philosophical issue of when the “someone” begins to be a human after fertilization, in the morally relevant sense, [5] impacts when an embryo becomes not just worthy of protection but morally entitled to it. The process of creating embryonic stem cell lines involves the destruction of the embryos for research. [6] Consequently, global engagement in ESC research depends on social-cultural acceptability.

a. US and Rights-Based Cultures

In the United States, attitudes toward stem cell therapies are diverse. The ethics and social approaches, which value individualism, [7] trigger debates regarding the destruction of human embryos, creating a complex regulatory environment. For example, the 1996 Dickey-Wicker Amendment prohibited federal funding for the creation of embryos for research and the destruction of embryos for “more than allowed for research on fetuses in utero.” [8] Following suit, in 2001, the Bush Administration heavily restricted stem cell lines for research. However, the Stem Cell Research Enhancement Act of 2005 was proposed to help develop ESC research but was ultimately vetoed. [9] Under the Obama administration, in 2009, an executive order lifted restrictions allowing for more development in this field. [10] The flux of research capacity and funding parallels the different cultural perceptions of human dignity of the embryo and how it is socially presented within the country’s research culture. [11]

b. Ubuntu and Collective Cultures

African bioethics differs from Western individualism because of the different traditions and values. African traditions, as described by individuals from South Africa and supported by some studies in other African countries, including Ghana and Kenya, follow the African moral philosophies of Ubuntu or Botho and Ukama , which “advocates for a form of wholeness that comes through one’s relationship and connectedness with other people in the society,” [12] making autonomy a socially collective concept. In this context, for the community to act autonomously, individuals would come together to decide what is best for the collective. Thus, stem cell research would require examining the value of the research to society as a whole and the use of the embryos as a collective societal resource. If society views the source as part of the collective whole, and opposes using stem cells, compromising the cultural values to pursue research may cause social detachment and stunt research growth. [13] Based on local culture and moral philosophy, the permissibility of stem cell research depends on how embryo, stem cell, and cell line therapies relate to the community as a whole . Ubuntu is the expression of humanness, with the person’s identity drawn from the “’I am because we are’” value. [14] The decision in a collectivistic culture becomes one born of cultural context, and individual decisions give deference to others in the society.

Consent differs in cultures where thought and moral philosophy are based on a collective paradigm. So, applying Western bioethical concepts is unrealistic. For one, Africa is a diverse continent with many countries with different belief systems, access to health care, and reliance on traditional or Western medicines. Where traditional medicine is the primary treatment, the “’restrictive focus on biomedically-related bioethics’” [is] problematic in African contexts because it neglects bioethical issues raised by traditional systems.” [15] No single approach applies in all areas or contexts. Rather than evaluating the permissibility of ESC research according to Western concepts such as the four principles approach, different ethics approaches should prevail.

Another consideration is the socio-economic standing of countries. In parts of South Africa, researchers have not focused heavily on contributing to the stem cell discourse, either because it is not considered health care or a health science priority or because resources are unavailable. [16] Each country’s priorities differ given different social, political, and economic factors. In South Africa, for instance, areas such as maternal mortality, non-communicable diseases, telemedicine, and the strength of health systems need improvement and require more focus. [17] Stem cell research could benefit the population, but it also could divert resources from basic medical care. Researchers in South Africa adhere to the National Health Act and Medicines Control Act in South Africa and international guidelines; however, the Act is not strictly enforced, and there is no clear legislation for research conduct or ethical guidelines. [18]

Some parts of Africa condemn stem cell research. For example, 98.2 percent of the Tunisian population is Muslim. [19] Tunisia does not permit stem cell research because of moral conflict with a Fatwa. Religion heavily saturates the regulation and direction of research. [20] Stem cell use became permissible for reproductive purposes only recently, with tight restrictions preventing cells from being used in any research other than procedures concerning ART/IVF. Their use is conditioned on consent, and available only to married couples. [21] The community's receptiveness to stem cell research depends on including communitarian African ethics.

c. Asia

Some Asian countries also have a collective model of ethics and decision making. [22] In China, the ethics model promotes a sincere respect for life or human dignity, [23] based on protective medicine. This model, influenced by Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), [24] recognizes Qi as the vital energy delivered via the meridians of the body; it connects illness to body systems, the body’s entire constitution, and the universe for a holistic bond of nature, health, and quality of life. [25] Following a protective ethics model, and traditional customs of wholeness, investment in stem cell research is heavily desired for its applications in regenerative therapies, disease modeling, and protective medicines. In a survey of medical students and healthcare practitioners, 30.8 percent considered stem cell research morally unacceptable while 63.5 percent accepted medical research using human embryonic stem cells. Of these individuals, 89.9 percent supported increased funding for stem cell research. [26] The scientific community might not reflect the overall population. From 1997 to 2019, China spent a total of $576 million (USD) on stem cell research at 8,050 stem cell programs, increased published presence from 0.6 percent to 14.01 percent of total global stem cell publications as of 2014, and made significant strides in cell-based therapies for various medical conditions. [27] However, while China has made substantial investments in stem cell research and achieved notable progress in clinical applications, concerns linger regarding ethical oversight and transparency. [28] For example, the China Biosecurity Law, promoted by the National Health Commission and China Hospital Association, attempted to mitigate risks by introducing an institutional review board (IRB) in the regulatory bodies. 5800 IRBs registered with the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry since 2021. [29] However, issues still need to be addressed in implementing effective IRB review and approval procedures.

The substantial government funding and focus on scientific advancement have sometimes overshadowed considerations of regional cultures, ethnic minorities, and individual perspectives, particularly evident during the one-child policy era. As government policy adapts to promote public stability, such as the change from the one-child to the two-child policy, [30] research ethics should also adapt to ensure respect for the values of its represented peoples.

Japan is also relatively supportive of stem cell research and therapies. Japan has a more transparent regulatory framework, allowing for faster approval of regenerative medicine products, which has led to several advanced clinical trials and therapies. [31] South Korea is also actively engaged in stem cell research and has a history of breakthroughs in cloning and embryonic stem cells. [32] However, the field is controversial, and there are issues of scientific integrity. For example, the Korean FDA fast-tracked products for approval, [33] and in another instance, the oocyte source was unclear and possibly violated ethical standards. [34] Trust is important in research, as it builds collaborative foundations between colleagues, trial participant comfort, open-mindedness for complicated and sensitive discussions, and supports regulatory procedures for stakeholders. There is a need to respect the culture’s interest, engagement, and for research and clinical trials to be transparent and have ethical oversight to promote global research discourse and trust.

d. Middle East

Countries in the Middle East have varying degrees of acceptance of or restrictions to policies related to using embryonic stem cells due to cultural and religious influences. Saudi Arabia has made significant contributions to stem cell research, and conducts research based on international guidelines for ethical conduct and under strict adherence to guidelines in accordance with Islamic principles. Specifically, the Saudi government and people require ESC research to adhere to Sharia law. In addition to umbilical and placental stem cells, [35] Saudi Arabia permits the use of embryonic stem cells as long as they come from miscarriages, therapeutic abortions permissible by Sharia law, or are left over from in vitro fertilization and donated to research. [36] Laws and ethical guidelines for stem cell research allow the development of research institutions such as the King Abdullah International Medical Research Center, which has a cord blood bank and a stem cell registry with nearly 10,000 donors. [37] Such volume and acceptance are due to the ethical ‘permissibility’ of the donor sources, which do not conflict with religious pillars. However, some researchers err on the side of caution, choosing not to use embryos or fetal tissue as they feel it is unethical to do so. [38]

Jordan has a positive research ethics culture. [39] However, there is a significant issue of lack of trust in researchers, with 45.23 percent (38.66 percent agreeing and 6.57 percent strongly agreeing) of Jordanians holding a low level of trust in researchers, compared to 81.34 percent of Jordanians agreeing that they feel safe to participate in a research trial. [40] Safety testifies to the feeling of confidence that adequate measures are in place to protect participants from harm, whereas trust in researchers could represent the confidence in researchers to act in the participants’ best interests, adhere to ethical guidelines, provide accurate information, and respect participants’ rights and dignity. One method to improve trust would be to address communication issues relevant to ESC. Legislation surrounding stem cell research has adopted specific language, especially concerning clarification “between ‘stem cells’ and ‘embryonic stem cells’” in translation. [41] Furthermore, legislation “mandates the creation of a national committee… laying out specific regulations for stem-cell banking in accordance with international standards.” [42] This broad regulation opens the door for future global engagement and maintains transparency. However, these regulations may also constrain the influence of research direction, pace, and accessibility of research outcomes.

e. Europe

In the European Union (EU), ethics is also principle-based, but the principles of autonomy, dignity, integrity, and vulnerability are interconnected. [43] As such, the opportunity for cohesion and concessions between individuals’ thoughts and ideals allows for a more adaptable ethics model due to the flexible principles that relate to the human experience The EU has put forth a framework in its Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being allowing member states to take different approaches. Each European state applies these principles to its specific conventions, leading to or reflecting different acceptance levels of stem cell research. [44]

For example, in Germany, Lebenzusammenhang , or the coherence of life, references integrity in the unity of human culture. Namely, the personal sphere “should not be subject to external intervention.” [45] Stem cell interventions could affect this concept of bodily completeness, leading to heavy restrictions. Under the Grundgesetz, human dignity and the right to life with physical integrity are paramount. [46] The Embryo Protection Act of 1991 made producing cell lines illegal. Cell lines can be imported if approved by the Central Ethics Commission for Stem Cell Research only if they were derived before May 2007. [47] Stem cell research respects the integrity of life for the embryo with heavy specifications and intense oversight. This is vastly different in Finland, where the regulatory bodies find research more permissible in IVF excess, but only up to 14 days after fertilization. [48] Spain’s approach differs still, with a comprehensive regulatory framework. [49] Thus, research regulation can be culture-specific due to variations in applied principles. Diverse cultures call for various approaches to ethical permissibility. [50] Only an adaptive-deliberative model can address the cultural constructions of self and achieve positive, culturally sensitive stem cell research practices. [51]

II. Religious Perspectives on ESC

Embryonic stem cell sources are the main consideration within religious contexts. While individuals may not regard their own religious texts as authoritative or factual, religion can shape their foundations or perspectives.

The Qur'an states:

“And indeed We created man from a quintessence of clay. Then We placed within him a small quantity of nutfa (sperm to fertilize) in a safe place. Then We have fashioned the nutfa into an ‘alaqa (clinging clot or cell cluster), then We developed the ‘alaqa into mudgha (a lump of flesh), and We made mudgha into bones, and clothed the bones with flesh, then We brought it into being as a new creation. So Blessed is Allah, the Best of Creators.” [52]

Many scholars of Islam estimate the time of soul installment, marked by the angel breathing in the soul to bring the individual into creation, as 120 days from conception. [53] Personhood begins at this point, and the value of life would prohibit research or experimentation that could harm the individual. If the fetus is more than 120 days old, the time ensoulment is interpreted to occur according to Islamic law, abortion is no longer permissible. [54] There are a few opposing opinions about early embryos in Islamic traditions. According to some Islamic theologians, there is no ensoulment of the early embryo, which is the source of stem cells for ESC research. [55]

In Buddhism, the stance on stem cell research is not settled. The main tenets, the prohibition against harming or destroying others (ahimsa) and the pursuit of knowledge (prajña) and compassion (karuna), leave Buddhist scholars and communities divided. [56] Some scholars argue stem cell research is in accordance with the Buddhist tenet of seeking knowledge and ending human suffering. Others feel it violates the principle of not harming others. Finding the balance between these two points relies on the karmic burden of Buddhist morality. In trying to prevent ahimsa towards the embryo, Buddhist scholars suggest that to comply with Buddhist tenets, research cannot be done as the embryo has personhood at the moment of conception and would reincarnate immediately, harming the individual's ability to build their karmic burden. [57] On the other hand, the Bodhisattvas, those considered to be on the path to enlightenment or Nirvana, have given organs and flesh to others to help alleviate grieving and to benefit all. [58] Acceptance varies on applied beliefs and interpretations.

Catholicism does not support embryonic stem cell research, as it entails creation or destruction of human embryos. This destruction conflicts with the belief in the sanctity of life. For example, in the Old Testament, Genesis describes humanity as being created in God’s image and multiplying on the Earth, referencing the sacred rights to human conception and the purpose of development and life. In the Ten Commandments, the tenet that one should not kill has numerous interpretations where killing could mean murder or shedding of the sanctity of life, demonstrating the high value of human personhood. In other books, the theological conception of when life begins is interpreted as in utero, [59] highlighting the inviolability of life and its formation in vivo to make a religious point for accepting such research as relatively limited, if at all. [60] The Vatican has released ethical directives to help apply a theological basis to modern-day conflicts. The Magisterium of the Church states that “unless there is a moral certainty of not causing harm,” experimentation on fetuses, fertilized cells, stem cells, or embryos constitutes a crime. [61] Such procedures would not respect the human person who exists at these stages, according to Catholicism. Damages to the embryo are considered gravely immoral and illicit. [62] Although the Catholic Church officially opposes abortion, surveys demonstrate that many Catholic people hold pro-choice views, whether due to the context of conception, stage of pregnancy, threat to the mother’s life, or for other reasons, demonstrating that practicing members can also accept some but not all tenets. [63]

Some major Jewish denominations, such as the Reform, Conservative, and Reconstructionist movements, are open to supporting ESC use or research as long as it is for saving a life. [64] Within Judaism, the Talmud, or study, gives personhood to the child at birth and emphasizes that life does not begin at conception: [65]

“If she is found pregnant, until the fortieth day it is mere fluid,” [66]

Whereas most religions prioritize the status of human embryos, the Halakah (Jewish religious law) states that to save one life, most other religious laws can be ignored because it is in pursuit of preservation. [67] Stem cell research is accepted due to application of these religious laws.

We recognize that all religions contain subsets and sects. The variety of environmental and cultural differences within religious groups requires further analysis to respect the flexibility of religious thoughts and practices. We make no presumptions that all cultures require notions of autonomy or morality as under the common morality theory , which asserts a set of universal moral norms that all individuals share provides moral reasoning and guides ethical decisions. [68] We only wish to show that the interaction with morality varies between cultures and countries.

III. A Flexible Ethical Approach

The plurality of different moral approaches described above demonstrates that there can be no universally acceptable uniform law for ESC on a global scale. Instead of developing one standard, flexible ethical applications must be continued. We recommend local guidelines that incorporate important cultural and ethical priorities.

While the Declaration of Helsinki is more relevant to people in clinical trials receiving ESC products, in keeping with the tradition of protections for research subjects, consent of the donor is an ethical requirement for ESC donation in many jurisdictions including the US, Canada, and Europe. [69] The Declaration of Helsinki provides a reference point for regulatory standards and could potentially be used as a universal baseline for obtaining consent prior to gamete or embryo donation.

For instance, in Columbia University’s egg donor program for stem cell research, donors followed standard screening protocols and “underwent counseling sessions that included information as to the purpose of oocyte donation for research, what the oocytes would be used for, the risks and benefits of donation, and process of oocyte stimulation” to ensure transparency for consent. [70] The program helped advance stem cell research and provided clear and safe research methods with paid participants. Though paid participation or covering costs of incidental expenses may not be socially acceptable in every culture or context, [71] and creating embryos for ESC research is illegal in many jurisdictions, Columbia’s program was effective because of the clear and honest communications with donors, IRBs, and related stakeholders. This example demonstrates that cultural acceptance of scientific research and of the idea that an egg or embryo does not have personhood is likely behind societal acceptance of donating eggs for ESC research. As noted, many countries do not permit the creation of embryos for research.

Proper communication and education regarding the process and purpose of stem cell research may bolster comprehension and garner more acceptance. “Given the sensitive subject material, a complete consent process can support voluntary participation through trust, understanding, and ethical norms from the cultures and morals participants value. This can be hard for researchers entering countries of different socioeconomic stability, with different languages and different societal values. [72]

An adequate moral foundation in medical ethics is derived from the cultural and religious basis that informs knowledge and actions. [73] Understanding local cultural and religious values and their impact on research could help researchers develop humility and promote inclusion.

IV. Concerns

Some may argue that if researchers all adhere to one ethics standard, protection will be satisfied across all borders, and the global public will trust researchers. However, defining what needs to be protected and how to define such research standards is very specific to the people to which standards are applied. We suggest that applying one uniform guide cannot accurately protect each individual because we all possess our own perceptions and interpretations of social values. [74] Therefore, the issue of not adjusting to the moral pluralism between peoples in applying one standard of ethics can be resolved by building out ethics models that can be adapted to different cultures and religions.

Other concerns include medical tourism, which may promote health inequities. [75] Some countries may develop and approve products derived from ESC research before others, compromising research ethics or drug approval processes. There are also concerns about the sale of unauthorized stem cell treatments, for example, those without FDA approval in the United States. Countries with robust research infrastructures may be tempted to attract medical tourists, and some customers will have false hopes based on aggressive publicity of unproven treatments. [76]

For example, in China, stem cell clinics can market to foreign clients who are not protected under the regulatory regimes. Companies employ a marketing strategy of “ethically friendly” therapies. Specifically, in the case of Beike, China’s leading stem cell tourism company and sprouting network, ethical oversight of administrators or health bureaus at one site has “the unintended consequence of shifting questionable activities to another node in Beike's diffuse network.” [77] In contrast, Jordan is aware of stem cell research’s potential abuse and its own status as a “health-care hub.” Jordan’s expanded regulations include preserving the interests of individuals in clinical trials and banning private companies from ESC research to preserve transparency and the integrity of research practices. [78]

The social priorities of the community are also a concern. The ISSCR explicitly states that guidelines “should be periodically revised to accommodate scientific advances, new challenges, and evolving social priorities.” [79] The adaptable ethics model extends this consideration further by addressing whether research is warranted given the varying degrees of socioeconomic conditions, political stability, and healthcare accessibilities and limitations. An ethical approach would require discussion about resource allocation and appropriate distribution of funds. [80]

While some religions emphasize the sanctity of life from conception, which may lead to public opposition to ESC research, others encourage ESC research due to its potential for healing and alleviating human pain. Many countries have special regulations that balance local views on embryonic personhood, the benefits of research as individual or societal goods, and the protection of human research subjects. To foster understanding and constructive dialogue, global policy frameworks should prioritize the protection of universal human rights, transparency, and informed consent. In addition to these foundational global policies, we recommend tailoring local guidelines to reflect the diverse cultural and religious perspectives of the populations they govern. Ethics models should be adapted to local populations to effectively establish research protections, growth, and possibilities of stem cell research.

For example, in countries with strong beliefs in the moral sanctity of embryos or heavy religious restrictions, an adaptive model can allow for discussion instead of immediate rejection. In countries with limited individual rights and voice in science policy, an adaptive model ensures cultural, moral, and religious views are taken into consideration, thereby building social inclusion. While this ethical consideration by the government may not give a complete voice to every individual, it will help balance policies and maintain the diverse perspectives of those it affects. Embracing an adaptive ethics model of ESC research promotes open-minded dialogue and respect for the importance of human belief and tradition. By actively engaging with cultural and religious values, researchers can better handle disagreements and promote ethical research practices that benefit each society.

This brief exploration of the religious and cultural differences that impact ESC research reveals the nuances of relative ethics and highlights a need for local policymakers to apply a more intense adaptive model.

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[5] Concerning the moral philosophies of stem cell research, our paper does not posit a personal moral stance nor delve into the “when” of human life begins. To read further about the philosophical debate, consider the following sources:

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[7] Socially, at its core, the Western approach to ethics is widely principle-based, autonomy being one of the key factors to ensure a fundamental respect for persons within research. For information regarding autonomy in research, see: Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, & National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research (1978). The Belmont Report. Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research.; For a more in-depth review of autonomy within the US, see: Beauchamp, T. L., & Childress, J. F. (1994). Principles of Biomedical Ethics . Oxford University Press.

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[13] Source for further reading: Tangwa G. B. (2007). Moral status of embryonic stem cells: perspective of an African villager. Bioethics , 21(8), 449–457. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-8519.2007.00582.x , see also Mnisi, F. M. (2020). An African analysis based on ethics of Ubuntu - are human embryonic stem cell patents morally justifiable? African Insight , 49 (4).

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Culturally, autonomy practices follow a relational autonomy approach based on a paternalistic deontological health care model. The adherence to strict international research policies and religious pillars within the regulatory environment is a great foundation for research ethics. However, there is a need to develop locally targeted ethics approaches for research (as called for in Alahmad, G., Aljohani, S., & Najjar, M. F. (2020). Ethical challenges regarding the use of stem cells: interviews with researchers from Saudi Arabia. BMC medical ethics, 21(1), 35. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-020-00482-6), this decision-making approach may help advise a research decision model. For more on the clinical cultural autonomy approaches, see: Alabdullah, Y. Y., Alzaid, E., Alsaad, S., Alamri, T., Alolayan, S. W., Bah, S., & Aljoudi, A. S. (2022). Autonomy and paternalism in Shared decision‐making in a Saudi Arabian tertiary hospital: A cross‐sectional study. Developing World Bioethics , 23 (3), 260–268. https://doi.org/10.1111/dewb.12355 ; Bukhari, A. A. (2017). Universal Principles of Bioethics and Patient Rights in Saudi Arabia (Doctoral dissertation, Duquesne University). https://dsc.duq.edu/etd/124; Ladha, S., Nakshawani, S. A., Alzaidy, A., & Tarab, B. (2023, October 26). Islam and Bioethics: What We All Need to Know . Columbia University School of Professional Studies. https://sps.columbia.edu/events/islam-and-bioethics-what-we-all-need-know

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[43] The EU’s definition of autonomy relates to the capacity for creating ideas, moral insight, decisions, and actions without constraint, personal responsibility, and informed consent. However, the EU views autonomy as not completely able to protect individuals and depends on other principles, such as dignity, which “expresses the intrinsic worth and fundamental equality of all human beings.” Rendtorff, J.D., Kemp, P. (2019). Four Ethical Principles in European Bioethics and Biolaw: Autonomy, Dignity, Integrity and Vulnerability. In: Valdés, E., Lecaros, J. (eds) Biolaw and Policy in the Twenty-First Century. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 78. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05903-3_3

[44] Council of Europe. Convention for the protection of Human Rights and Dignity of the Human Being with regard to the Application of Biology and Medicine: Convention on Human Rights and Biomedicine (ETS No. 164) https://www.coe.int/en/web/conventions/full-list?module=treaty-detail&treatynum=164 (forbidding the creation of embryos for research purposes only, and suggests embryos in vitro have protections.); Also see Drabiak-Syed B. K. (2013). New President, New Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Policy: Comparative International Perspectives and Embryonic Stem Cell Research Laws in France. Biotechnology Law Report , 32 (6), 349–356. https://doi.org/10.1089/blr.2013.9865

[45] Rendtorff, J.D., Kemp, P. (2019). Four Ethical Principles in European Bioethics and Biolaw: Autonomy, Dignity, Integrity and Vulnerability. In: Valdés, E., Lecaros, J. (eds) Biolaw and Policy in the Twenty-First Century. International Library of Ethics, Law, and the New Medicine, vol 78. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-05903-3_3

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[47] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Germany . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-germany

[48] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Finland . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-finland

[49] Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Spain . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-spain

[50] Some sources to consider regarding ethics models or regulatory oversights of other cultures not covered:

Kara MA. Applicability of the principle of respect for autonomy: the perspective of Turkey. J Med Ethics. 2007 Nov;33(11):627-30. doi: 10.1136/jme.2006.017400. PMID: 17971462; PMCID: PMC2598110.

Ugarte, O. N., & Acioly, M. A. (2014). The principle of autonomy in Brazil: one needs to discuss it ... Revista do Colegio Brasileiro de Cirurgioes , 41 (5), 374–377. https://doi.org/10.1590/0100-69912014005013

Bharadwaj, A., & Glasner, P. E. (2012). Local cells, global science: The rise of embryonic stem cell research in India . Routledge.

For further research on specific European countries regarding ethical and regulatory framework, we recommend this database: Regulation of Stem Cell Research in Europe . Eurostemcell. (2017, April 26). https://www.eurostemcell.org/regulation-stem-cell-research-europe

[51] Klitzman, R. (2006). Complications of culture in obtaining informed consent. The American Journal of Bioethics, 6(1), 20–21. https://doi.org/10.1080/15265160500394671 see also: Ekmekci, P. E., & Arda, B. (2017). Interculturalism and Informed Consent: Respecting Cultural Differences without Breaching Human Rights. Cultura (Iasi, Romania) , 14 (2), 159–172.; For why trust is important in research, see also: Gray, B., Hilder, J., Macdonald, L., Tester, R., Dowell, A., & Stubbe, M. (2017). Are research ethics guidelines culturally competent? Research Ethics , 13 (1), 23-41. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016116650235

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[57] Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.), Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press. https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[58] Lecso, P. A. (1991). The Bodhisattva Ideal and Organ Transplantation. Journal of Religion and Health , 30 (1), 35–41. http://www.jstor.org/stable/27510629 ; Bodhisattva, S. (n.d.). The Key of Becoming a Bodhisattva . A Guide to the Bodhisattva Way of Life. http://www.buddhism.org/Sutras/2/BodhisattvaWay.htm

[59] There is no explicit religious reference to when life begins or how to conduct research that interacts with the concept of life. However, these are relevant verses pertaining to how the fetus is viewed. (( King James Bible . (1999). Oxford University Press. (original work published 1769))

Jerimiah 1: 5 “Before I formed thee in the belly I knew thee; and before thou camest forth out of the womb I sanctified thee…”

In prophet Jerimiah’s insight, God set him apart as a person known before childbirth, a theme carried within the Psalm of David.

Psalm 139: 13-14 “…Thou hast covered me in my mother's womb. I will praise thee; for I am fearfully and wonderfully made…”

These verses demonstrate David’s respect for God as an entity that would know of all man’s thoughts and doings even before birth.

[60] It should be noted that abortion is not supported as well.

[61] The Vatican. (1987, February 22). Instruction on Respect for Human Life in Its Origin and on the Dignity of Procreation Replies to Certain Questions of the Day . Congregation For the Doctrine of the Faith. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/congregations/cfaith/documents/rc_con_cfaith_doc_19870222_respect-for-human-life_en.html

[62] The Vatican. (2000, August 25). Declaration On the Production and the Scientific and Therapeutic Use of Human Embryonic Stem Cells . Pontifical Academy for Life. https://www.vatican.va/roman_curia/pontifical_academies/acdlife/documents/rc_pa_acdlife_doc_20000824_cellule-staminali_en.html ; Ohara, N. (2003). Ethical Consideration of Experimentation Using Living Human Embryos: The Catholic Church’s Position on Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research and Human Cloning. Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology . Retrieved from https://article.imrpress.com/journal/CEOG/30/2-3/pii/2003018/77-81.pdf.

[63] Smith, G. A. (2022, May 23). Like Americans overall, Catholics vary in their abortion views, with regular mass attenders most opposed . Pew Research Center. https://www.pewresearch.org/short-reads/2022/05/23/like-americans-overall-catholics-vary-in-their-abortion-views-with-regular-mass-attenders-most-opposed/

[64] Rosner, F., & Reichman, E. (2002). Embryonic stem cell research in Jewish law. Journal of halacha and contemporary society , (43), 49–68.; Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.), Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press. https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[65] Schenker J. G. (2008). The beginning of human life: status of embryo. Perspectives in Halakha (Jewish Religious Law). Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics , 25 (6), 271–276. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-008-9221-6

[66] Ruttenberg, D. (2020, May 5). The Torah of Abortion Justice (annotated source sheet) . Sefaria. https://www.sefaria.org/sheets/234926.7?lang=bi&with=all&lang2=en

[67] Jafari, M., Elahi, F., Ozyurt, S. & Wrigley, T. (2007). 4. Religious Perspectives on Embryonic Stem Cell Research. In K. Monroe, R. Miller & J. Tobis (Ed.), Fundamentals of the Stem Cell Debate: The Scientific, Religious, Ethical, and Political Issues (pp. 79-94). Berkeley: University of California Press. https://escholarship.org/content/qt9rj0k7s3/qt9rj0k7s3_noSplash_f9aca2e02c3777c7fb76ea768ba458f0.pdf https://doi.org/10.1525/9780520940994-005

[68] Gert, B. (2007). Common morality: Deciding what to do . Oxford Univ. Press.

[69] World Medical Association (2013). World Medical Association Declaration of Helsinki: ethical principles for medical research involving human subjects. JAMA , 310(20), 2191–2194. https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2013.281053 Declaration of Helsinki – WMA – The World Medical Association .; see also: National Commission for the Protection of Human Subjects of Biomedical and Behavioral Research. (1979). The Belmont report: Ethical principles and guidelines for the protection of human subjects of research . U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. https://www.hhs.gov/ohrp/regulations-and-policy/belmont-report/read-the-belmont-report/index.html

[70] Zakarin Safier, L., Gumer, A., Kline, M., Egli, D., & Sauer, M. V. (2018). Compensating human subjects providing oocytes for stem cell research: 9-year experience and outcomes. Journal of assisted reproduction and genetics , 35 (7), 1219–1225. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10815-018-1171-z https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6063839/ see also: Riordan, N. H., & Paz Rodríguez, J. (2021). Addressing concerns regarding associated costs, transparency, and integrity of research in recent stem cell trial. Stem Cells Translational Medicine , 10 (12), 1715–1716. https://doi.org/10.1002/sctm.21-0234

[71] Klitzman, R., & Sauer, M. V. (2009). Payment of egg donors in stem cell research in the USA. Reproductive biomedicine online , 18 (5), 603–608. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1472-6483(10)60002-8

[72] Krosin, M. T., Klitzman, R., Levin, B., Cheng, J., & Ranney, M. L. (2006). Problems in comprehension of informed consent in rural and peri-urban Mali, West Africa. Clinical trials (London, England) , 3 (3), 306–313. https://doi.org/10.1191/1740774506cn150oa

[73] Veatch, Robert M. Hippocratic, Religious, and Secular Medical Ethics: The Points of Conflict . Georgetown University Press, 2012.

[74] Msoroka, M. S., & Amundsen, D. (2018). One size fits not quite all: Universal research ethics with diversity. Research Ethics , 14 (3), 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1177/1747016117739939

[75] Pirzada, N. (2022). The Expansion of Turkey’s Medical Tourism Industry. Voices in Bioethics , 8 . https://doi.org/10.52214/vib.v8i.9894

[76] Stem Cell Tourism: False Hope for Real Money . Harvard Stem Cell Institute (HSCI). (2023). https://hsci.harvard.edu/stem-cell-tourism , See also: Bissassar, M. (2017). Transnational Stem Cell Tourism: An ethical analysis. Voices in Bioethics , 3 . https://doi.org/10.7916/vib.v3i.6027

[77] Song, P. (2011) The proliferation of stem cell therapies in post-Mao China: problematizing ethical regulation, New Genetics and Society , 30:2, 141-153, DOI: 10.1080/14636778.2011.574375

[78] Dajani, R. (2014). Jordan’s stem-cell law can guide the Middle East. Nature 510, 189. https://doi.org/10.1038/510189a

[79] International Society for Stem Cell Research. (2024). Standards in stem cell research . International Society for Stem Cell Research. https://www.isscr.org/guidelines/5-standards-in-stem-cell-research

[80] Benjamin, R. (2013). People’s science bodies and rights on the Stem Cell Frontier . Stanford University Press.

Mifrah Hayath

SM Candidate Harvard Medical School, MS Biotechnology Johns Hopkins University

Olivia Bowers

MS Bioethics Columbia University (Disclosure: affiliated with Voices in Bioethics)

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About Early Care and Education
Making Changes in ECE
Public Health Strategy
ECE Data and Statistics
What Others Are Doing
Early Care and Education Resources
Advancing Farm to ECE
Advancing Early Child Nutrition in ECE
ECE State Licensing
High-Impact Obesity Prevention Standards

ECE State Indicator Report

CDC's Early Care and Education (ECE) State Indicator Report 2023 provides data on what states are doing to promote healthy growth and obesity prevention in ECE settings. The report can guide future ECE nutrition, physical activity, healthy growth, and obesity prevention efforts.

image of two children playing on playground slide

The report illustrates how states have embedded healthy growth and obesity prevention into their ECE systems, as outlined in the Spectrum of Opportunities Framework .

Key findings

The ECE State Indicator Report 2023 indicates that:

47 states increased the number of obesity prevention standards in their licensing regulations for ECE centers since 2014.
34 states support Child and Adult Care Food Program meal patterns through their licensing regulations.
33 states have an obesity prevention intervention for ECE programs.
30 states offer a tool that helps ECE programs assess their nutrition, physical activity, breastfeeding, and Farm to ECE policies and practices.
43 states report supporting Farm to ECE activities through state or local activities.

What you can do

State and local health department staff and other key ECE partners can use this report to guide future ECE nutrition, physical activity, healthy growth, and obesity prevention efforts. It can also be used to educate state and local decision makers about existing policies and activities and ways they can support healthy growth and obesity prevention efforts.

Image of two young children playing on a slide.

Consider several sources of data to get a comprehensive understanding of your state or community context.

Also see the Early Care and Education State Indicator Report 2016 .

Early Care and Education

Early care and education practices can support healthy eating and physical activity when children are young and perhaps for a lifetime.

For Everyone

Public health.

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120+ Special Education Research Topics: That You Need to Know

Social Issues Special Education Research Topics

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200 Good Research Topics For Special Education: Best Guide

Importance of Research in Special Education

200 Research Topics For Special Education

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Teacher Shortages

Funding and Resources

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