Foundations of special education : basic knowledge informing research and practice in special education / [edited by] James L. Paul ... [et al].

Includes bibliographical references and indexes.

Introduction : foundational knowledge and special education / James L. Paul and Kofi Marfo -- The role of basic knowledge and the future of special education / William M. Morse, James L. Paul, and Hilda Rosselli-Kostoryz. I. Intellectual and social contexts of special education policy. Philosophy : traditional to postmodern / Lynda Stone -- Ecology of the family as a context for human development : research perspectives / Urie Bronfenbrenner. II. Learning, development, and intervention. Neuropsychology and special education : foundations, applications, and future contributions / Stephen R. Hooper -- Theories of intelligence and critiques / Julie Viens, Jie-Qi Chen, Howard Gardner -- The promise of early intervention to enhance the life outcomes of children in poverty / Edward Zigler -- Problems and potentials of youth development : a developmental contextual model for research and outreach promoting positive youth development / Richard M. Lerner.

III. Care and special education : a cultural project. Diversity : what do teachers need to know? / Sonia Nieto -- Gender in the classroom / Nel Noddings -- Liberalism, ethics, and special education / Kenneth R. Howe. IV. The future of special education. Future research in special education : a systems perspective / Albert J. Duchnowski and Krista Kutash -- The behavioral sciences and special education research : some promising directions and challenging legacies / Kofi Marfo and Louise H. Boothby -- Behavior analysis and its relevance to special education / Glen Dunlap and Lee Kern -- Postmodernism, narrative, and hope in special education / Scot Danforth.

This enlightening book contains papers (presented as chapters) commissioned from nationally recognized scholars, which examine topics related to ethics, culture, science, and philosophy that have a direct bearing on the future of special education. Many of the chapters challenge concepts and ways of thinking that helped shape current educational policies and practices and that are now outmoded.