50 years of evidence on educating students with disabilities: Limited research on placements, stronger support for intensive instruction

By Ashley Grant, Center for Research and Reform in Education, Johns Hopkins University

The debate over where and how to educate students with disabilities continues in school districts across the United States. In a recent article, Fuchs, Gilmour, and Wanzek, three well-established special education researchers, reviewed 50 years of history, policy, and research on special education placements and student academic outcomes. They specifically assessed claims that general education placements alone produce the best outcomes, compared to arguments  supporting a continuum of placements based on student needs. Their analysis found that while this debate is ongoing, research on placement remains methodologically weak or inconclusive. In contrast, stronger evidence supports how to educate students with disabilities, particularly through intensive instructional methods such as small-group and one-on-one interventions.

The authors acknowledged that their review focused on academic and instructional outcomes rather than social ones. They explicitly stated that their conclusions apply to students with significant learning challenges for whom academic achievement is a priority, rather than those whose primary goals for inclusion involve social engagement or a sense of belonging. They also noted that most rigorous evidence supporting instructional approaches comes from studies of early elementary grades, particularly in reading and math interventions. They concluded that while general education approaches such as Universal Design for Learning (UDL) and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS) are widely promoted, there is limited empirical evidence proving their effectiveness for students with disabilities. Therefore, IDEA protections remain essential to ensuring that all students with disabilities receive an education that meets their needs, including access to specialized learning environments when appropriate.