What is a major goal for fostering collaboration between special education and general education teachers?

A major goal for fostering collaboration between special education and general education teachers is to ensure all students receive equally rigorous content. This reflects the fundamental principle of inclusive education, which is designed to provide all students, regardless of their individual needs or abilities, access to the same high-quality academic content and learning opportunities. Collaborative teaching approaches, such as co-teaching models, aim to leverage the strengths of both special and general education teachers, allowing them to work together to create a supportive learning environment where differentiated instruction is used to meet the diverse needs of learners.

This collaboration ultimately helps to break down barriers, promotes a sense of belonging to all students in the classroom, and ensures that each student has equitable access to challenging and meaningful educational experiences. Approaching education from this angle recognizes that students with disabilities should not be segregated from their peers, but rather integrated into classroom settings that challenge them academically while supporting their unique learning requirements.