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Co-teaching

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Co-teaching is a model in which a general and a special education teacher share instruction for one class that includes students with IEPs.

Topic: Services, placement and staff

In plain terms

Common models include one teach and one assist, station teaching, parallel teaching, alternative teaching for a small group, and team teaching. Co-teaching works best with shared planning time and when both teachers deliver instruction, rather than the special educator acting as an aide. Students with IEPs receive specially designed instruction inside the class.

How it shows up in an IEP

Co-taught minutes are usually listed as special education in the general education setting. The IEP should still show what SDI happens in that class, and data can be collected during co-taught lessons.

Example

In a co-taught seventh-grade math class, the special educator runs a station that reteaches integer rules with number lines, while the general educator leads a word problem station.

Related terms

  • InclusionInclusion is the practice of educating students with disabilities in general education classes, with the supports they need to learn and belong.
  • Push-in servicesPush-in services are special education or related services delivered inside the student's regular classroom during ongoing lessons.
  • Specially designed instruction (SDI)Specially designed instruction is teaching adapted in content, method or delivery to meet a student's disability-related needs.
  • LRE (Least Restrictive Environment)LRE is the IDEA requirement that students with disabilities learn alongside peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate for each student.
  • Universal Design for Learning (UDL)Universal Design for Learning is a framework for planning lessons with flexible options from the start, so more students can access and engage with learning.

On IEP Atlas

This page describes special education terms and federal rules in general terms and is not legal advice. Our editorial policy explains how IEP Atlas writes and reviews content. Browse all 244 terms.