How the Commitment to Inclusion Has Highlighted the Need for Greater Collaboration in the United States1

ABSTRACT: In this article, we provide an overview of the special education policies and practices enacted in the United States over the past 25 years. Although there have been some improvements in conditions for students with special education needs, achievement data continue to indicate unacceptably low levels of achievement. We believe that the lack of achievement highlights the fact that greater collaboration is needed between special educators and general education educators. We describe the different forms of collaboration that have evolved over the past two decades and we provide recommendations for strengthening collaborations in the future.