Specialized Support Centers for Inclusive Education - theoretical model and perspective of implementation in educational practice

Abstract

The article is devoted to the implementation of inclusive education in the Polish education system. It presents the theoretical assumptions of the functioning model of Specialist Support Centers for Inclusive Education (in polish: Specjalistyczne Centra Wspierające Edukację Włączającą = SCWEW) and an outline of current activities in the field of pilot implementation of these innovative institutions, which are to be ultimately created in each district on the basis of selected special schools. SCWEWs are a solution that combines satisfying the needs of support for mainstream schools implementing inclusive education with rational management of human resources in special schools and their teacher’s experience. The first results of the research undertaken by the authors on the shaping of the new role of special schools undertaking the tasks of SCWEWs were also presented. The previous stages of the pilot were described, emerging in the form of a spiral of actions.