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National Organizations to Support Implementation of Evidence-Based Practices for Students with IEPs

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires specially designed instruction to be based on peer-reviewed research to the extent practicable. In addition, evaluation of students with IEPs must utilize research based tools whenever practicable.

There are many national technical assistance centers funded through the United States Department of Education (USDE) and Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) that provide information on evidence based interventions.

All special education services identified in each student’s IEP, including specially designed instruction and supplementary aids and services, must be based on the unique disability-related needs of the student.

High Leverage Practices in Special Education

The CEEDAR Center and Council for Exceptional Children developed a list of 22 High Leverage Practices (HLPs) in Special Education that can help inform the delivery of specially designed instruction. There are several resource materials outlining the effectiveness of these practices including a book, High Leverage Practices for Inclusive Classrooms, as well as videos, fact sheets, and other resources aligned with the high leverage practices in special education.

Division for Early Childhood Recommended Practices in Special Education

The Division for Early Childhood Recommended Practices were developed to provide guidance to practitioners and families about the most effective ways to improve the learning outcomes and promote the development of young children, birth through age 5, who have or are at-risk for developmental delays or disabilities. The purpose is to help bridge the gap between research and practice by highlighting those practices that have been shown to result in better outcomes for young children with disabilities, their families, and the personnel who serve them.

Additional Resources for Evidence Based Practices and Interventions

American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA)

American Speech Hearing Association (ASHA) 

Provides policy guidance as well as recommendations and articles on evidence based practices to support speech and language needs of students with IEPs.

Autism Internet Modules (AIM)

Autism Internet Modules (AIM) 

Sign up for a free account on this web site to access several videos of effective interventions for students with autism including several modules designated as Evidence Based Practices from the National Professional Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders. Several videos also include information about autism.

Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules (AFIRM)

Autism Focused Intervention Resources and Modules (AFIRM) 

Free online professional development modules based on peer reviewed evidence based practices.

Assistive Technology Internet Modules

Assistive Technology Internet Modules 

Free online modules to support the assistive technology needs of students with IEPs.

Best Evidence Encyclopedia

Best Evidence Encyclopedia  

The Best Evidence Encyclopedia is a free web site created by the Johns Hopkins University School of Education's Center for Data-Driven Reform in Education (CDDRE) under funding from the Institute of Education Sciences, U.S. Department of Education. It is intended to give educators and researchers fair and useful information about the strength of the evidence supporting a variety of programs available for students in grades K-12.

CEC Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD)

CEC Council for Children with Behavioral Disorders (CCBD) 

CCBD is a professional (paid) membership organization that provides resources and support for students with unique behavioral needs. They provide professional development opportunities that improve policy and practice for children and youth with or at risk of emotional and behavioral disorders.

Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR)

Collaboration for Effective Educator Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) 

CEEDAR’s mission is to support students with disabilities in achieving college- and career-ready standards by building the capacity of state personnel preparation systems to prepare teachers and leaders to implement evidence-based practices within multi-tiered systems of support. They provide a free, downloadable High-Leverage Practice guidance document, which was developed in collaboration by the CEEDAR Center and the Council for Exceptional Children. Also see CEEDAR Center Innovation Configurations.

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL)

Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (CASEL) 

The Collaborative for Academic, Social, and Emotional Learning (SEL) defined social and emotional learning more than two decades ago. Today, they support state, districts and schools nationwide and convene leading thinkers to ensure SEL is a priority in every school nationwide.

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC)

Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) 

The CEC is a professional association of educators, with paid membership, dedicated to advancing the success of children with exceptionalities. They accomplish their mission through advocacy, standards, and professional development.

Council for Exceptional Children Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities

Council for Exceptional Children Division on Autism and Developmental Disabilities

The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has many division sub-groups including one on autism and developmental disabilities. This site provides updates on conferences and other learning resources.

Doing What Works

Doing What Works 

Doing What Works helps educators understand and use research-based practices. This library from WestEd includes interviews with researchers and educators, multimedia examples and sample materials from real schools and classrooms, and tools that can help educators take action.

Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center

Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center

The ECTA Center supports state Part C and Section 619 programs in developing high-quality early intervention and preschool special education service systems, increasing local implementation of evidence-based practices, and enhancing outcomes for young children with disabilities and their families.

IRIS Center

IRIS Center

IRIS provides modules on supports for social/emotional/behavioral needs, several of which provide a clear connection to the CEC’s high-leverage practices. There are free online modules that include materials on self-regulation strategies, phases in the acting-out cycles, early childhood supports, and more.

National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII)

National Center on Intensive Intervention (NCII)

NCII developed a set of course content focused on developing educators’ skills in designing and delivering behavior support in intensive intervention. The course includes modules that can support faculty and professional development providers with instructing pre-service and in-service educators’ knowledge of behavioral theory and skills in designing and delivering effective behavioral supports for students with intensive needs.

National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI)

National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI)

WestEd’s National Center for Systemic Improvement (NCSI) helps states transform their systems to improve outcomes for children and youth with disabilities. NCSI provides states with technical assistance to support their school districts and local early intervention service programs in improving educational results and functional outcomes for children and youth with disabilities.

National Dropout Prevention Center

National Dropout Prevention Center

The mission of the National Dropout Prevention Center is to increase graduation rates through research and evidence-based solutions.

National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NPDCASD)

National Professional Development Center on Autism Spectrum Disorders (NPDCASD) 

More than 20 peer reviewed evidence based practices including step by step instructions and implementation checklists.

National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT)

National Technical Assistance Center on Transition (NTACT)

Evidence based resources to support transition of students to postsecondary.

Organization for Autism Research (OAR)

Organization for Autism Research (OAR) 

OAR provides several resources including online videos intended to assist secondary (high school) teachers with assisting students with autism in general education settings.

Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) Centers

Ohio Center for Autism and Low Incidence (OCALI) Centers 

OCALI informs public policy and develops and deploys best practices so that people with disabilities have the opportunity to live their best lives for their whole lives. The Autism Center works to build the capacity of school districts and other education agencies to improve their instruction and support for individuals with autism.

  • Autism Center  The Autism Center works to build the capacity of school districts and other education agencies to improve their instruction and support for individuals with autism. It provides links to ASD in the News, a Resource Gallery of Interventions, Assessments, and more.

  • Executive Function Webcast Series  This webcast series explains how everyone uses executive function (EF) every day, defines EF, impact of EF, assessing EF, and more.

  • Understanding and Addressing Challenging Behaviors: Expect Success Video Series  OCALI staff members provide information on the belief system essential to understanding and addressing challenging behavior. This team-based process focuses on matching interventions to target behaviors after in-depth exploration of student strengths and challenges. This 13-part series is based in positive behavior intervention supports, functional behavior assessment (FBA), and behavior intervention planning.

OSEP Ideas that Work

OSEP Ideas that Work 

The US Department of Education Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) provides several resources, toolkits, and briefs to support the effective implementation of special education services in schools.

What Works Clearinghouse

What Works Clearinghouse

The What Works Clearinghouse (WWC) reviews the existing research on different programs, products, practices, and policies in education. Our goal is to provide educators with the information they need to make evidence-based decisions. We focus on the results from high-quality research to answer the question “What works in education?”

 

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