Advancing Equity in Mathematics Instruction for Students with Disabilities: Lessons from School-Based Inquiry
This applied study examined instructional, structural, and family engagement factors contributing to low mathematics achievement among students with disabilities and identified a coordinated school-based recommendation for improvement. The study used interviews with co- teachers, a focus group of instructional staff, and a parent survey (n = 50) to examine barriers to math achievement and identify evidence-based strategies. Findings revealed challenges in co-teaching implementation, insufficient planning time, variability in differentiation, and inconsistent use of math language and manipulatives. Parent data indicated uneven home math engagement shaped by socio-economic context. Based on the findings, the study recommends a school-based task force to develop a digital math hub with targeted instructional and family resources. Results highlight the importance of collaborative planning, culturally responsive pedagogy, and family-school partnerships in addressing inequities in special education mathematics outcomes.