Academic achievement of students without special educational needs in inclusive classrooms: A meta-analysis

This article presents a meta-analysis that attempts to establish how the presence of students with special educational needs in the classroom impacts students without special educational needs. We meta-analyzed 47 studies that met the inclusion criteria, covering a total sample of almost 4 800 000 students. The overall effect was positive and statistically significant but weak, d = 0.12 (95% CI: 0.02, 0.23). A number of moderators, including the country of study, the manner of implementation (intervention studies versus regular school practice), the educational team composition, the level and type of disorders in students with special educational needs, and finally educational stage were examined. We discuss the findings in terms of assumptions and controversies surrounding the very concept of inclusive education.