Inclusive education: a review of the evidence

In this chapter, I provide a comprehensive review of the evidence on inclusive education for students with and without disability. I present an overview of five decades of research evidence about the impact of inclusive education on students’ social, academic, and post-school outcomes, as well as their personal well-being. Commentary is provided about the strength and consistency of this evidence. I also examine some of the popular assumptions and claims made about educating students in segregated special schools and classrooms and I consider the strength of these claims in light of research evidence. I conclude by outlining the case for change away from a dual-track system of special and regular education settings and how this might be achieved.