Are we included? Secondary students' perception of inclusion climate in their schools

The study examines secondary school students' perception of the climate in their classrooms with reference to inclusive education. A key objective of the study was also to examine psychometric properties of a newly developed Inclusion Climate Scale (ICS). Data were obtained using a paper-pencil survey in which 699 students (age = 10-17 years) from North Rhine-Westphalia (Germany) participated. The results of exploratory factor analysis revealed two factors (Factor I: Teacher Support and Care; Factor II: Emotional Experience). The Inclusion Climate Scale along with the two factors it contains showed satisfactory reliability and validity.