Push-In Support vs Inclusion Classroom in Education - What is The Difference?

Last Updated Feb 2, 2025

An inclusion classroom fosters an environment where students of diverse abilities learn together, promoting equity and mutual respect. Effective strategies and tailored support ensure that every learner's unique needs are met, enhancing social and academic growth. Discover how your classroom can benefit from inclusive practices by reading the full article.

Table of Comparison

Aspect Inclusion Classroom Push-In Support
Definition Students with disabilities learn alongside peers in a general education setting full-time. Special education support provided within the general education classroom by a specialist.
Instruction Style Unified instruction for all students, adjusted for diverse learning needs. General instruction with targeted assistance to specific students.
Individualized Support Adapted curriculum integrated for all students. Specialist provides direct support without removing student from class.
Teacher Roles General and special educators collaborate in planning and delivery. General educator leads; specialist supports students as needed.
Student Social Interaction Promotes peer integration and inclusive social environment. Supports social inclusion, with specialist facilitating inclusion.
Target Students Students with diverse disabilities requiring comprehensive inclusion. Students needing periodic support within general classroom.
Benefits Enhanced social skills, academic growth, sense of belonging. Targeted support, minimal disruption, improved engagement.
Challenges Requires skilled collaboration, resource-intensive. Potential limited individualized attention, dependent on specialist availability.

Understanding Inclusion Classrooms

Inclusion classrooms integrate students with diverse learning needs into general education settings, fostering social interaction and equitable access to core curriculum alongside peers. These classrooms emphasize differentiated instruction and collaborative teaching between general and special educators to support individualized learning goals. Understanding inclusion classrooms requires recognizing their role in promoting academic achievement and social-emotional development through inclusive practices and comprehensive support structures.

Defining Push-In Support

Push-in support refers to the educational strategy where special education professionals provide assistance to students with disabilities within the general education classroom, promoting inclusion without removing them from the mainstream environment. This approach allows targeted, real-time interventions and scaffolding tailored to individual needs while maintaining peer interaction and engagement with the curriculum. Push-in support contrasts with pull-out models by emphasizing collaboration between special educators and general teachers to create an inclusive learning experience.

Key Differences Between Inclusion and Push-In Models

Inclusion classrooms integrate students with disabilities directly into general education settings, promoting full participation and access to the core curriculum alongside peers. Push-in support involves specialized educators or therapists entering the general classroom to provide targeted assistance without removing students from the inclusive environment. The primary difference lies in the level of integration, where inclusion emphasizes a unified learning experience while push-in support focuses on supplementing instruction within that shared space.

Academic Outcomes in Inclusive Settings

Inclusion classrooms integrate students with disabilities alongside their non-disabled peers, promoting social interaction and higher engagement, which often leads to improved academic outcomes through consistent exposure to grade-level curriculum. Push-in support involves specialized educators entering the general education classroom to provide targeted assistance, helping students access content without removing them from the mainstream environment, thereby enhancing individualized learning and academic achievement. Research indicates that inclusion classrooms with effective push-in support yield better student performance, higher achievement scores, and increased participation in rigorous academic activities.

Social Benefits of Each Approach

Inclusion classrooms foster social integration by placing students with diverse learning needs directly alongside their peers, promoting everyday interactions and mutual understanding. Push-in support provides targeted assistance within the general classroom, allowing students to engage socially while receiving specialized help without separating them from their peers. Both approaches enhance social skills, but inclusion classrooms emphasize continuous peer collaboration, whereas push-in support balances social participation with individualized support.

Roles of Special Education Teachers

Special education teachers in inclusion classrooms collaborate with general education teachers to modify curriculum and implement individualized education programs (IEPs) within the general education setting, ensuring all students receive appropriate support. In push-in support models, special education teachers provide targeted assistance directly in the regular classroom, focusing on specific skill development and behavior interventions without removing students from their peers. Their role emphasizes facilitating access to the general curriculum while fostering social integration and academic progress for students with disabilities.

Collaboration Between General and Special Educators

Collaboration between general and special educators is crucial in both inclusion classrooms and push-in support models, as it ensures tailored instructional strategies meet diverse student needs. In inclusion classrooms, co-teaching allows for shared responsibility in lesson planning and delivery, fostering seamless support within the general education environment. Push-in support emphasizes targeted interventions within the classroom, requiring effective communication and coordination to integrate specialized assistance without disrupting the learning process.

Challenges in Implementation

Inclusion classrooms face challenges such as managing diverse learning needs, limited teacher training, and insufficient resources, which can hinder effective instruction for all students. Push-in support struggles with scheduling conflicts, inadequate collaboration between general and special education teachers, and difficulty in providing personalized interventions within a crowded classroom environment. Both models require comprehensive planning, continuous professional development, and administrative support to overcome these implementation barriers.

Student Perspectives and Experiences

Inclusion classrooms immerse students with disabilities alongside their peers, fostering social integration and shared learning experiences that often enhance self-esteem and peer relationships. Push-in support offers targeted, in-class assistance from specialized educators, allowing students to access the general curriculum without leaving the classroom environment. Students report that while inclusion promotes a sense of belonging, push-in support helps them address specific academic challenges more effectively within the mainstream setting.

Best Practices for Effective Support

Inclusion classrooms integrate students with diverse learning needs alongside their peers, promoting social interaction and collaborative learning, while push-in support involves specialized educators providing targeted assistance within the general education setting. Best practices for effective support include maintaining clear communication between general and special educators, implementing individualized accommodations seamlessly, and fostering a flexible learning environment that adapts to student needs. Utilizing data-driven interventions and ongoing professional development ensures both inclusion and push-in models maximize student engagement and academic progress.

Inclusion Classroom Infographic

Push-In Support vs Inclusion Classroom in Education - What is The Difference?


About the author. JK Torgesen is a seasoned author renowned for distilling complex and trending concepts into clear, accessible language for readers of all backgrounds. With years of experience as a writer and educator, Torgesen has developed a reputation for making challenging topics understandable and engaging.

Disclaimer.
The information provided in this document is for general informational purposes only and is not guaranteed to be complete. While we strive to ensure the accuracy of the content, we cannot guarantee that the details mentioned are up-to-date or applicable to all scenarios. Topics about Inclusion Classroom are subject to change from time to time.

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