ABSTRACT
The role of the school principal has evolved and grown dramatically over time, with the greatest emphasis being the principal's impact on student achievement. The most important role the principal plays in facilitating successful inclusion experiences is generally symbolic. The actions of an effective leader communicate a powerful message to the school community. Shaping the culture in this way is accomplished through the intentional application of these strategies and actions. In the culture of acceptance with unified direction, the presence of highly qualified, precisely trained professionals is necessary to ensure the achievement of diverse learners. General and special educators, as well as paraprofessionals and special area teachers, may share targets for improvement or be varied. Assessment data, surveys, interviews/discussions, and observations are all useful for identification of improvement targets. The role of parents in facilitating inclusive educational placements is unquestionably critical to successful outcomes.
