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Marissa Chavez Ed.D., is a 2025 graduate of the Ed.D. program in Educational and Professional Practice at Antioch University.

Dissertation Committee:

Gary Delanoeye, Ed.D., Committee Chair

Lesley Jackson, Ph.D., Committee Member

Emiliano Gonzalez, Ph.D. Committee Member

Keywords

collaboration in education, special education, general education, inclusive education, social justice in education, educational equity, teacher collaboration, inclusive practices, systemic inequalities in education, student outcomes, qualitative

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2025

Abstract

The general purpose of this study is focused on collaboration between special education and general education communities to bolster inclusive educational practices, defining social justice, and how social justice connects with special education. The study aims to investigate the obstacles to effective collaboration, social justice implications of ineffective collaborative practices, and possible solutions of collaboration to enhance inclusive educational settings. The study uncovers how collaboration between special education and general education communities contribute to promoting an inclusive educational environment, which characteristics and key indicators categorize collaborative strategies as effective and ineffective between the two school communities. This study examines how collaboration can contribute to addressing systematic inequalities and ensuring all students, including students with differing learning needs, have access to a quality education. The research investigates the history of social justice, history of special education, and the connection between special education and social justice, which is relevant to the research topic of collaboration between special and general education teachers. Effective collaboration between special and general education communities positively influences inclusive educational practices, which leads to improved student outcomes, strengthened school support systems, and a more equitable learning environment. Through a qualitative research approach involving interviews, the research explores the perspectives and experiences of educators, administrators, and other educational professionals, which is relevant when researching collaboration efforts between two school communities. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu).

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ORCID No. 0009-0001-1072-2424

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