High-Leverage Practices in Special Education

The primary purpose of this publication is to provide those involved in special education teacher preparation and professional development with a set of high-leverage practices (HLPs) that were identified through consensus among special educators. These HLPs may be used to design a cohesive set of practice based opportunities to support teacher candidates and practicing teachers in learning to put this know-how to use on behalf of the complex learners they teach. The document begins by providing the Council for Exceptional Children's (CEC's) HLPs across four intertwined components of special education teacher practice--collaboration, assessment, social/emotional/behavioral practices, and instruction. The 22 HLPs are intended to address the most critical practices that every K-12 special education teacher should master. The research syntheses that follow the HLPs delve more deeply into the rationale and evidence base for each. The appendices provide references for teacher educators, administrators, and teachers alike, with a glossary of terms and additional resources for each of the HLP components.