Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn)
Vol 20, No 3: August 2026

Amplifying special education student voices: exploring co-teaching practices in inclusive settings

William S. Augusto Jr. (Desert Sunrise High School)
Noremay B. Perez (Santa Rosa Elementary School)



Article Info

Publish Date
01 Aug 2026

Abstract

This study explored the lived experiences of 10 high school students in co-taught inclusive classrooms and examined how co-teaching practices influence academic engagement and emotional well-being. Using an interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) approach, student reflections were collected and analyzed to gain insight into their perceptions of the co-teaching model. Five key themes emerged: i) immediate academic support enhances understanding, ii) emotional safety and inclusion foster confidence, iii) co-teaching improves classroom organization and instructional flow, iv) inconsistent co-teacher presence causes frustration, and v) students desire autonomy alongside support. Findings indicate that while students generally view co-teaching positively, its effectiveness depends on consistent teacher collaboration and responsive support tailored to individual needs. This study contributes a student-centered perspective to inclusive education and underscores the importance of strengthening collaborative practices and stable co-teaching partnerships to optimize educational outcomes for all learners.

Copyrights © 2026






Journal Info

Abbrev

EduLearn

Publisher

Subject

Humanities Education Library & Information Science Social Sciences Other

Description

Journal of Education and Learning (EduLearn) ISSN: 2089-9823, e-ISSN 2302-9277 is a multi-disciplinary, peer-refereed open-access international journal which has been established for the dissemination of state-of-the-art knowledge in the field of education, teaching, development, instruction, ...