Implementing Disability-Related Curricular Legislation: Insight Into a Statewide Pilot Program

• In Event: AERA Roundtable Session Thursday 1:45 pm Four Seasons Ballroom 2-3
  In Roundtable Session: Improving State, District, and Local Policies and Programs to Better Serve Students (Table 12)

Abstract

In July 2022, the Pennsylvania General Assembly established Pennsylvania’s Disability Inclusive Curriculum Pilot (DICP), a three-year (2023-2026) program aimed to support instruction of the “political, economic, and social contributions of individuals with disabilities.” The purpose of this mixed-methods study is to examine DICP implementation after Year 1 and to highlight facilitators and barriers that teachers and administrators encountered when enacting this legislation. Eight districts and one school participated in Year 1 and were sampled for this study. Survey and interview data revealed that all sites increased curricular representation of disability by the end of Year 1. In addition to providing valuable points of insight for teachers, administrators, and teacher educators, study results offer a roadmap for entities implementing similar legislation.

Authors

• Christa S. Bialka, Villanova University

• Nicole Hansen, Seton Hall University

• Irene P. Kan, Villanova University

• Alexa Dunleavy, Villanova University