Date of Award
2026
Degree Type
Doctoral Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Department
Education
Committee Chair
Deirdra A. Preis, Ed.D.
2nd Reader
Brandon Frame, Ed.D
3rd Reader
Michael, Dietter, Ed. D
Abstract
This mixed-methods Improvement Science Dissertation in Practice (ISDiP) examined high rates of segregation for students receiving special education services in an urban district in central Connecticut. A root cause analysis, supported by a review of existing literature, guided the need for intervention given the widening gap between academic achievement and post-secondary outcomes for students with disabilities as compared to their peers at the secondary level. Using an improvement science framework within a convergent mixed-methods design, this study investigated the implementation of a six-week professional learning intervention for high school administrators. The professional learning focused on the facilitation of Planning and Placement Team (PPT) meetings using structured facilitation and process protocols to ensure that special education recommendations aligned with state and federal guidelines while supporting student placement in the least restrictive environment. Findings from the study indicated that professional learning and the use of standardized facilitation protocols strengthened leaders’ capacity to guide PPT meetings using consistent, data-driven practices. While shifts in student placement rates into less restrictive settings naturally require more time to manifest, the early outcomes point toward promising long-term impacts. Overall, the study suggests that structured protocols create a strong foundation for improved practice, and that continued, targeted professional learning, particularly in areas such as implicit bias, universal design for learning, and restorative practices will deepen and sustain these gains.
Recommended Citation
Martino, A. M. (2026). The intersection of bias and practice: Understanding how adult beliefs and ppt expertise affect self-contained placement Recommendations in special education [Doctoral dissertation, Sacred Heart University]. https://digitalcommons.sacredheart.edu/edd/77/
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Comments
A dissertation in the Isabelle Farrington College of Education and Human Development presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Education.