PROMOTING COLLABORATION IN EDUCATION - BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SPECIAL AND GENERAL EDUCATION COMMUNITIES - Doctor of Education Dissertation

Sep 4, 2026

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The general purpose of this study focuses on collaboration between special education and general education communities to strengthen inclusive educational practices and clarify how social justice relates to special education. The study investigates barriers to effective collaboration, the social justice consequences of ineffective collaborative practices, and solutions that improve inclusive educational settings. Findings examine how collaboration shapes an inclusive environment and identify characteristics distinguishing effective versus ineffective strategies. Using qualitative interviews, the research captures educators’ and administrators’ perspectives on collaboration’s role in reducing systematic inequalities and supporting access to quality education. The dissertation is available via open access at AURA and the OhioLINK ETD Center.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryGeneral

FormatPDF

Pages177

Reading Time1 h 2 min

AccessFree to download

CHAPTER I: INTRODUCTION

Relationship to the Problem

Research Questions

Purpose Statement

Potential Significance

Limitations and Delimitations

Researcher’s Assumptions

Definition of Terms

Conclusion

CHAPTER II: LITERATURE REVIEW

Collaboration

PROMOTING COLLABORATION IN EDUCATION: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SPECIAL AND GENERAL EDUCATION COMMUNITIES A Dissertation Presented to the Faculty of Antioch University In partial fulfillment for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION by Marissa G. Chavez ORCID Scholar No. 0009-0001-1072-2424 August 2025 PROMOTING COLLABORATION IN EDUCATION: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SPECIAL AND GENERAL EDUCATION COMMUNITIES This dissertation, by Marissa G. Chavez, has been approved by the committee members signed below who recommend that it be accepted by the faculty of Antioch University in partial fulfillment of requirements for the degree of DOCTOR OF EDUCATION Dissertation Committee: Gary Delanoeye, EdD, Dissertation Chair Lesley Jackson, PhD Emiliano Gonzalez, PhD Copyright © 2025 by Marissa G. Chavez All Rights Reserved ABSTRACT PROMOTING COLLABORATION IN EDUCATION: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN SPECIAL AND GENERAL EDUCATION COMMUNITIES Marissa G. Chavez Antioch University Yellow Springs, OH The general purpose of this study is focused on collaboration between special education and general education communities to bolster inclusive educational practices, defining social justice, and how social justice connects with special education. The study aims to investigate the obstacles to effective collaboration, social justice implications of ineffective collaborative practices, and possible solutions of collaboration to enhance inclusive educational settings. The study uncovers how collaboration between special education and general education communities contribute to promoting an inclusive educational environment, which characteristics and key indicators categorize collaborative strategies as effective and ineffective between the two school communities. This study examines how collaboration can contribute to addressing systematic inequalities and ensuring all students, including students with differing learning needs, have access to a quality education. The research investigates the history of social justice, history of special education, and the connection between special education and social justice, which is relevant to the research topic of collaboration between special and general education teachers. Effective collaboration between special and general education communities positively influences inclusive educational practices, which leads to improved student outcomes, strengthened school support systems, and a more equitable learning environment. Through a qualitative research approach involving interviews, the research explores the perspectives and experiences of educators, administrators, and other educational professionals, which is relevant when researching collaboration efforts between two school communities. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA ([https://aura.antioch.edu](https://aura.antioch.edu)) and OhioLINK ETD Center ([https://etd.ohiolink.edu](https://etd.ohiolink.edu)). Keywords: collaboration in education, special education, general education, inclusive education, social justice in education, educational equity, teacher collaboration, inclusive practices, systemic inequalities in education, student outcomes Acknowledgements I would like to express my deepest gratitude to all those who contributed to the completion of this dissertation. This journey was made possible by many remarkable individuals. First and foremost, I extend my sincere appreciation to my dissertation chair, Dr. Gary Delanoeye, for his invaluable guidance, patience, and encouragement through my research and through my graduate studies. His expertise in special education profoundly shaped my understanding of this field and his mentorship was instrumental in the development of this work. I am also deeply grateful to my dissertation committee members, Dr. Lesley Jackson and Dr. Emiliano Gonzalez, for their insightful feedback, constructive critiques, and steadfast support during this process. Thei

FAQs

What is the study’s main purpose regarding collaboration in education?

It examines how collaboration between special education and general education communities can strengthen inclusive educational practices and connect social justice to special education.

What barriers and consequences does the research focus on?

The research addresses obstacles to effective collaboration and the social justice implications of ineffective collaborative practices, including effects on equity and access.

How does the dissertation study collaboration, and who contributes perspectives?

It uses a qualitative approach with interviews, gathering perspectives from educators, administrators, and other educational professionals involved in collaboration efforts.

Sep 4, 2026

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