ABSTRACT
The inclusion movement, in conjunction with federal mandates, has begun to tear down the once isolating structures in education. School teams that previously used IQ-achievement discrepancy to identify children with learning disabilities can use the alternative method of Response to Intervention (RtI). Collaboration is a school philosophy and teacher practice that manifests itself in many different forms under many different names. A consultative coach models the qualities of a skilled facilitator. Coaches have both content and instructional expertise and promote and support high-quality instruction through direct, school-based work with other teachers and professionals. General education also had a strong collaboration movement in the 1980s that resulted in the reorganization of middle schools to meet the needs of adolescents who required more support to facilitate their learning and growth. Students, professionals, and parents benefit when schools adopt the philosophy and practices of a collaborative educational environment.
