Inclusion Today: Practical Tools For School, District, and State Leaders
Inclusion Today is a cross-organizational collaboration between The Described and Captioned Media Program (DCMP), Diverse Learners Cooperative (DLC), the Maryland Coalition for Inclusive Education (MCIE), and Blue Engine (BE), aimed at shifting practices among school and district leaders to achieve equitable outcomes for all learners. The collaboration came about during a Community of Action (CoA) […]
Why Exceptional Educators Need Champions in the Room: DLC Day on The Hill
Last month, DLC team members joined EdTrust Tennessee at the Tennessee State Capitol for Day on the Hill, an opportunity to advocate directly for the policies that make inclusive education possible and sustainable. This experience was made especially meaningful as two former DLC fellows and current classroom teachers, Anthony Benvenuto of Valor Collegiate Academy and […]
From Data to Instructionally Appropriate IEP: Using the Special Educators’ IEP Draft Roadmap
Writing an IEP is one of the most important and most complex responsibilities special educators hold. It requires balancing compliance, instructional quality, student voice, and equity, all within tight timelines. The IEP Draft Roadmap was created to make that work clearer, more manageable, and more meaningful. This tool supports special educators and case managers in […]
Supporting Special Educators, Improving Outcomes: Why Preparation Programs Matter More Than Ever
As schools work to meet the needs of students with disabilities and multilingual learners, one truth is becoming increasingly clear: educator preparation matters not just for getting teachers into classrooms, but for helping them stay. The Diverse Learner Teacher Preparation Report (2024) highlights educator preparation programs (EPPs) as a critical starting point in building a […]
Caseload Management: A Tool for Sustainability
For special education case managers, time is one of the most limited and most critical resources. Between IEP meetings, service coordination, documentation, progress monitoring, collaboration, and instruction, the work can quickly become overwhelming. When time isn’t managed intentionally, both educators and students feel the impact. Caseload time management isn’t about squeezing more tasks into the […]
Co-Teaching That Works, Part 2: Turning Models Into Meaningful Collaboration
In Part 1 of this series, we explored how effective co-teaching depends on intentionally selecting and incorporating different co-teaching models. But knowing which model to use is only part of the equation. The real impact of co-teaching happens behind the scenes through trust, communication, and shared clarity. That’s where the DLC Co-Teaching Collaboration Template comes […]
Co-Teaching That Works Part 1: Practical Models for Inclusive Classrooms
Co-teaching is a powerful tool for inclusive instruction, but only when it’s implemented with intention. This two-part series explores how co-teaching can move beyond shared space to become a meaningful instructional partnership. In Part 1, we focus on the six co-teaching models and how choosing the right model for the moment can strengthen instruction for […]
Planning for All Learners: Focal Student Strategy
Planning for Diverse Learners Starts With One Student Inclusive instruction doesn’t start with a checklist, it starts with knowing your students. The Focal Student Strategy Tool helps educators do exactly that by intentionally planning instruction around a small set of “focal” learners whose needs represent the diversity of a real classroom. When teachers plan deeply […]
Diverse Learner Teacher Retention in Tennessee: A Study Examining 5 Conditions to Retain Special Educators
Why Teacher Retention for Diverse Learners Matters Across Tennessee and the nation, schools are facing a critical challenge: retaining educators who serve students with disabilities and English learners. These roles require deep expertise, collaboration, and sustained support, yet too often educators leave not because of students, but because of systems that make the work unsustainable. […]
Ensuring FAPE for Students with Disabilities During Virtual Learning: A Tool Designed for Moments of Disruption
Originally developed during COVID-19 school closures, Ensuring FAPE for Students with Disabilities remains deeply relevant today. While the context has shifted, the challenge has not: educators are still navigating flexible schedules, staffing shortages, intermittent absences, alternative placements, and evolving instructional models. At its core, this resource is a planning and reflection template that helps school […]