IMPLEMENTATION OF ACCOMMODATIONS FOR STUDENTS WITH SPECIFIC LEARNING DISABILITIES AND STUDENT MATHEMATIC ACHIEVEMENT IN

NINTH GRADE INCLUSION MATHEMATICS CLASSES.

You are being asked to be in a research study. The investigator of this study is Belinda B. Baptiste, a doctoral student at Florida International University. The study explores the relationship of the use of specific instructional accommodations and student outcomes,

particularly in mathematics at the secondary level for students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) in the ninth grade general education classrooms. The study will include general education mathematics teachers in Miami-Dade County Public Schools who have students with specific learning disabilities (SLD) in their classrooms. During Phase I of the study you will be asked to respond to a survey on the instructional accommodations you use in your mathematics classrooms in which there are students with specific learning disabilities. If your responses to the

questionnaire meet the criteria for selection for the other phases of the study you will be contacted and informed of this by the researcher.

If you are selected and agree to be part of the other phases of the study, you will be observed over a 3-week period for 1 ½ to 2 hours each week (one observation per week) for a total of three observations and the researcher will be collecting data on the implementation of mathematics instructional accommodations in the general education classroom and student achievement on an Algebra 1 Topic test. You will be asked to do the following things:

a. Meet with the researcher for a brief information session prior to being observed at a time convenient to you in order to provide more clarifying details of the study.

b. Administer one of Miami-Dade County School District’s Algebra 1 Topic Test to the entire class during the period of the study as a pre-and post-test (the test will be provided for pre- testing prior to the topic being taught) and provide the researcher with the tests data. c. Allow the researcher 3 in-class observations in one of your Algebra 1 classes with at least

three students with Specific learning disabilities (SLD). The observation will be for

approximately 1 ½ to 2hours (one class period) on 3 separate occasions over a 3-week period (the observer will use a checklist containing instructional accommodations).

The data collected will be identified by numbers and letters of the alphabet only and not your name or the name of your school. The data will also be presented on a graph and table. The research will be conducted within a commonly accepted educational setting (your classroom) and will not deviate substantially from normal educational practices. The research will be conducted with adult participants only. Furthermore, although maximum efforts will be taken to respect the privacy of the participant, disclosure of participant’s responses outside the research would not reasonably place participant at risk of criminal or civil liability or be damaging to participant’s financial standing, employability, or reputation. The records of this study will be kept private and will be protected to the fullest extent provided by law. In any sort of report we might publish, we will not include any information that will make it possible to identify a subject. Research records will be stored securely and only the researcher team will have access to the records. However, your records may be reviewed for audit purposes by authorized University or other agents who will be bound by the same provisions of confidentiality.

It is expected that this study will benefit society because it will fill the gap in the research on academic accommodations for students with specific learning disabilities in mathematics in general education classrooms. This information will add to the body of knowledge on best practices in mathematics instruction. Participants will also have the opportunity to reflect on their own best practices.

There is no cost to you. You will receive a gift card in the amount of $20.00 for each in-class observation and the gift card will be given to you at the end of the study. You will not be responsible for any costs to participate in this study.

Your participation in this study is voluntary. You are free to participate in the study or withdraw your consent at any time during the study. Your withdrawal or lack of participation will not affect any benefits to which you are otherwise entitled. The investigator reserves the right to remove you without your consent at such time that they feel it is in the best interest.

If you have any questions about the purpose, procedures, or any other issues relating to this research study you may contact Belinda B. Baptiste at 954-736-0828, [email protected].

If you would like to talk with someone about your rights of being a subject in this research study or about ethical issues with this research study, you may contact the FIU Office of Research Integrity by phone at 305-348-2494 or by email at [email protected].

I have read the information in this consent form and agree to participate in this study. I have had a chance to ask any questions I have about this study, and they have been answered for me. I understand that I will be given a copy of this form for my records.