Research and Best Practices

Access Center
The access center provides technical assistance to strengthen State and local capacity to help students with disabilities effectively learn in the general education curriculum. The goals of the Access Center are to increase awareness of research-based programs, practices and tools; strengthen the ability of educators to be informed consumers of programs, practices and tools and assist educators to implement and evaluate programs, practices and tools. The Access Center has resources on a wide variety of topics including co-teaching.

Autism Internet Modules
The AIM project provides parents and professionals with the up-to-date information they need to help individuals with ASD achieve their highest potential. This series of online learning modules includes information on assessment and identification of ASDs, recognizing and understanding behaviors and characteristics, transition to adulthood, employment, and numerous evidence-based practices and interventions.

All module content has been written by ASD experts from across the U.S. In addition, each module is designed to be consistent with research on how adults learn; information is presented at a universal reading level, and interactive activities both reinforce knowledge and teach learners how to make the latest research applicable to real life.

The IRIS Center
The IRIS Center is a national center funded by the USDOE’s Office of Special Education Programs that aims to provide high-quality resources for college and university faculty and professional development providers about students with disabilities. IRIS provides free, online, interactive training enhancements that translate research about the education of students with disabilities into practice. The IRIS Resource Locator currently has training modules, case studies, activities, information briefs and/or podcasts on the following topics:  accommodations, assessment (including progress monitoring), assistive technology, behavior and classroom management, collaboration, content instruction, differentiated instruction, disability, diversity, learning strategies, math, RTI (including early interventions), reading/literacy/language arts, related services, school improvement/leadership, and transition. Many modules are available in English and Spanish.

RTI, National Center on Response to Intervention
The National Center on Response to Intervention is funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Office of Special Education Programs.  The Center supports the implementation of RTI on a national level by 1) identifying, adapting, evaluating and scaling up RTI frameworks, 2) providing ongoing support and technical assistance to states to support implementation of comprehensive RTI programs in districts, schools, and classrooms nationally; and disseminating information about proven and promising practices within RTI frameworks to our target audience, including parents, service providers, program administrators, policymakers, and other interested stakeholders across the country.

What Works Clearinghouse
An initiative of the U.S. Department of Education's Institute of Education Sciences, the WWC: Produces user-friendly practice guides for educators that address instructional challenges with research-based recommendations for schools and classrooms; assesses the rigor of research evidence on the effectiveness of interventions (programs, products, practices, and policies), giving educators the tools to make informed decisions; develops and implements standards for reviewing and synthesizing education research; and provides a public and easily accessible registry of education evaluation researchers to assist schools, school districts, and program developers with designing and carrying out rigorous evaluations.  Topic areas include:  adolescent literacy, beginning reading, character education, dropout prevention, early childhood education, early childhood education for children with disabilities, elementary school math, English language learners, middle school math and students with learning disabilities.

Positive Behavior Interventions and Supports
The TA Center on Positive Behavioral Interventions and Supports has been established by the Office of Special Education Programs, US Department of Education to give schools capacity-building information and technical assistance for identifying, adapting, and sustaining effective school-wide disciplinary practices. 

Life Space Crisis Intervention
Life Space Crisis Intervention (LSCI) is a nationally recognized, professional training and certification program sponsored by the Life Space Crisis Intervention Institute of Hagerstown, Maryland.

LSCI is an advanced, interactive therapeutic strategy for turning crisis situations into learning opportunities for children and youth with chronic patterns of self-defeating behaviors. LSCI views problems or stressful incidents as opportunities for learning, growth, insight, and change. This non-physical intervention program uses a multi-theoretical approach to behavior management and problem solving. LSCI provides staff a roadmap through conflict to desired outcomes using crisis as an opportunity to teach and create positive relationships with youth.

Reducing Behavior Problems in Elementary School Classrooms
This guide is intended to help elementary school educators as well as school and district administrators develop and implement effective prevention and intervention strategies that promote positive student behavior. The guide includes concrete recommendations and indicates the quality of the evidence that supports them. Additionally, the authors describe some, though not all, ways in which each recommendation could be carried out. The authors also acknowledge roadblocks to implementation that may be encountered and suggest solutions that have the potential to circumvent the roadblocks. Finally, technical details about the studies that support the recommendations are provided.

Vaughn Gross Center for Reading and Language Arts (VGC)
The Vaughn Gross Center is dedicated to improving the educational outcomes of traditionally underrepresented student populations, such as English language learners and students with learning difficulties.  The Center provides information related to effective, research-based reading instruction for prekindergarten, primary, secondary and special education students.  Materials include professional development guides, videos, CD-ROMs and booklets addressing a range of reading topics, including phonological awareness, phonics, fluency, vocabulary and comprehension.  Most can be explored digitally through an online database.