Advocacy in Action is designed to bring you key findings from important research in special education. We boil it down to the essential information and tell you why it matters. These Advocacy in Action reports are now available:

• Issue 16 - October 2021
  This issue provides an update to our earlier article designed to help advocates ensure that Assistive Technology is considered for every student with a disability. Read the report and listen to a podcast about AT opportunities provided by the education funding in the American Rescue Plan Act.
  
  
• Issue 15 - March 2015
  This issue contributed by Dr. Steve Imber addresses policy letters issued by the U.S. Dept. of Education regarding Independent Education Evaluations, including the most recent letter issued in February of 2015. Read the article.
  
  
• Issue 14 - October 2013
  This issue reports on an initiative in Baltimore City Public Schools to transform special education. Known as One Year Plus, this initiative embodies the district's commitment to promoting high achievement for students with disabilities. It can serve as a national model for states and districts across the country. Read the report.
  
  
• Issue 13 - August 2013
  This issue reports on a study that examines the characteristics of effective class action lawsuits in special education. The findings provide important similarities between unsuccessful (low yield) cases and between successful (high yield) ones and provides a list of recommendations for plaintiffs and defendants involved in class action lawsuits.. Read the report. Contributed by the Center for Law and Education.
  
  
• Issue 12 - April 2011
  This issue reports on a study that examines the impact of inclusion on graduation rates for students with disabilities in Georgia. The findings indicate a lack of evidence to show that inclusion has a positive impact on the number of students with mild disabilities who earn a regular high school diploma. Read the report.
  
  
• Issue 11 - January 2011
  This issue provides an overview of the performance of students with disabilities on high school exit exams across the 28 states currently implementing such exams. Read the report.
  
  
• Issue 10 - September 2010
  This issue provides a chronology of activities undertaken to address the use of Restrait and Seclusion in our nation's schools and features an August 2010 Experts on the Record PODCAST on the subject. Read the report
  
  
• Issue 9 - April 2010
  This issue provides an overview of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) and why attention to the performance of students with disabilities in this nationwide assessment program is important to advocates and parents. Read the report.
  

• Issue 8 - September 2009
  This issue provides a framework to help advocates ensure that Assistive Technology is considered for every student with a disability. Read the report.
  

• Issue 7 - January 2009
  This issue reports on a study of factors that contribute to parent-school conflict in special education. The findings can help advocates and parents understand the various factors that escalate or deescalate conflict. Read the report.
  

• Issue 6 - November 2008
  This issue reports on a study of employers’ attitudes toward hiring people with disabilities who have earned different types of high school diplomas. The findings can help advocates and parents understand the importance of paying strict attention to diploma options in transition planning for young people with disabilities. Read the report.
  
  
• Issue 5 - September 2008
  This issue reports on a study of the influence of gender in the setting of goals and planning of transition servicesfor young women with disabilities. The findings can help advocates and parents evaluate their assumpations about transition planning for young women with disabilities and attempt to do more powerful planning. Read the report.
  
  
• Issue 4 - May 2007
  This issue reports on a study of state-level administrative and district court rulings in the area of school-to-post school transition plans. The findings can help advocates negotiated sound transition plans for students with disabilities. Read the report.
  

• Issue 3 - February 2007
  This issue reports on a study of the perspectives of students with Intellectual Disabilities about their experiences with paraprofessional support in school. The findings reaffirm previous observations from the field that the use of paraprofessional support can have several negative implications for students, both socially and academically. Read the report.
  
  
• Issue 2 - October 2006
  This issue reports on a study of 800 due process, district court and appellate court decisions involving the adequacy of Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs). The findings provide important information that advocates and parents need to take into consideration as they work together to plan effective behavioral interventions on behalf of students with disabilities. Read the report.
  
  
• Issue 1 - September 2006
  This issue reports on a study of the Procedural Safeguards Notices of 49 states and the District of Columbia. Learn what researchers consider to be important features that make this legal notice more parent-friendly. Then see how each state fared using our grading system. Read the report.