Pixel International Conferences

The purpose of this five-year study was to evaluate the results of re-designing a dual undergraduate teacher preparation program into a fully merged elementary and special education program. The program was designed to produce teachers more capable of working with a diverse population of students, including children who are culturally diverse, dual language learners, those at-risk for school failure and those identified with high-incidence disabilities. Faculty from both departments engaged in co-teaching the merged courses in the new program. The foundational practices of the redesigned program included Universal Design for Learning (UDL), Response to Intervention (RtI), culturally responsive pedagogy, evidence-based practices, and instructional/assistive technology. The presentation will: (a) provide an overview of the process, (b) share the final merged curriculum and clinical practice component, and (c) report upon our successes and lessons learned. (Program redesign funded by the US Department of Education, 2011).