Special Education Considerations Of Ethical Leaders During The Turnaround Process

Abstract

Education has entered an era of accountability with measures and school rating based largely on overall student performance on high-stakes assessments. Schools identified as at-risk or underperforming are mandated under the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) to take a course of action to improve student achievement. This has led the charge for schools to adopt improvement initiatives or models across the country. The focus of education has therefore become one of achievement rather than one of learning. In design these improvement efforts, as Heward points out, are “focused on student outcomes, particularly helping all students, including students with disabilities, reach high academic and occupational skill standards” (as cited in Koh & Robertson, 2003, p. 422). Keywords: Special Education, Ethical Leadership, Ethics in Education