title: Advanced Reading Comprehension Expectations in Secondary School: Considerations for Students with Emotional or Behavior Disorders.
abstract: The debate around recent implementation of the Common Core Standards (CCSS) has perplexed many policy makers, practitioners, and researchers; yet there remains broad agreement for the need to improve reading outcomes and college and career readiness for all students, including students with disabilities. One of the most vulnerable populations with disabilities in terms of college and career readiness is students with emotional disorders (ED). A considerable percentage of students with ED encounter unfavorable academic and long-term outcomes, often due to reading difficulties and behavioral variables that impede learning. To date, the impact of rising expectations in reading on the education of students with ED has been absent from this conversation about CCSS. In this article, we consider the implications of new reading expectations in the critical period of Grades 6-12 for students with ED. First, we summarize grade level expectations of the standards. Then, we describe the characteristics and underachievement of students with ED. Next, we evaluate challenges in meeting the expectations based on extant research, and provide recommendations for practice based on the intervention literature. We conclude by prioritizing a research and policy agenda that advocates for increasing the likelihood of success in reading for students with ED in middle school and high school.
authors.affiliation: Texas State University, College of Education, Department of Curriculum and Instruction, 601 University Drive, ED Bldg., Room 3075, San Marcos, TX 78666, ciullo@txstate.edu , 607-725-2976.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ciullo
authors.affiliation: Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Department of Teaching & Learning, Southern Methodist University, PO Box 750455, Dallas, TX 75275-0455, (850) 728-0433, mbortiz@smu.edu.
authors.forename: Miriam B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Ortiz
authors.affiliation: Annette Caldwell Simmons School of Education and Human Development, Department of Teaching & Learning, Southern Methodist University, PO Box 750455, Dallas, TX 75275-0455, Cell 850-445-5805, Office fax 214-768-2171, salotaiba@smu.edu.
authors.forename: Stephanie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Al Otaiba
authors.affiliation: University of Kansas, Department of Special Education (SPED), 1122 West Campus Road, JRP Room 541, Lawrence, KS 66045, (785) 864 9630, Kathleen.Lane@ku.edu , http://specialedu.soe.ku.edu.
authors.forename: Kathleen Lynne
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Lane
keywords: Emotional- Behavior Disorders; Reading; Standards