A1 Journal article (refereed)
How do educational reforms change the share of students in special education? Trends in special education in Finland (2020)
Pulkkinen, J., Räikkönen, E., Jahnukainen, M., & Pirttimaa, R. (2020). How do educational reforms change the share of students in special education? Trends in special education in Finland. European Educational Research Journal, 19(4), 364-384. https://doi.org/10.1177/1474904119892734
JYU authors or editors
Publication details
All authors or editors: Pulkkinen, Jonna; Räikkönen, Eija; Jahnukainen, Markku; Pirttimaa, Raija
Journal or series: European Educational Research Journal
eISSN: 1474-9041
Publication year: 2020
Volume: 19
Issue number: 4
Pages range: 364-384
Publisher: Sage Publications Ltd.
Publication country: United Kingdom
Publication language: English
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/1474904119892734
Publication open access: Not open
Publication channel open access:
Publication is parallel published (JYX): https://jyx.jyu.fi/handle/123456789/67064
Abstract
Recent European and global trends in education have been to promote inclusive education and expand education, resulting in the increased provision of special education. In promoting inclusive education, recent special education reforms have also aimed to curtail the rise in identification rates for students in special education, for example, by focusing more on early support and discontinuing fiscal incentives to identify students with special educational needs. Using official special education statistics, we studied how Finland’s special education system reforms changed the share of students in special education. In addition, we examined variations in special education provisions among municipalities before and after the reforms, and identified municipal-level predictors of variations. This study utilised piecewise linear latent growth curve modelling to analyse changes, thereby providing an example of how this method can be applied in policy reform studies. The results indicated, in particular, that the funding reform has incentivised municipalities to decrease identification rates for students in special education and to diminish special education provision. However, different municipalities have different special education provisions and have changed these provisions in varied ways. In particular, we found that small and large municipalities differ in special education practices and reform implementation.
Keywords: primary and lower secondary education; comprehensive school; school reform; education policy; inclusion; special education (teaching)
Free keywords: basic education; comprehensive school; educational reform; education policy; inclusive education; special education
Contributing organizations
Ministry reporting: Yes
Reporting Year: 2020
JUFO rating: 2