A sense of belonging is more than a feeling, it is a powerful driver of student engagement, achievement, and well-being. It is created through the systems, structures, and instructional practices that shape students' daily experiences in school. When students feel valued, connected, and capable, they are more likely to participate, take academic risks, and thrive.

Too often, however, educational systems have unintentionally created barriers that limit meaningful participation for students with IEPs, particularly Black students receiving special education services and students with intellectual and developmental disabilities (ID/D), who continue to experience some of the greatest barriers to equitable access and inclusion. Belonging as a systems lever challenges us to move beyond simply asking whether students are physically present in general education classrooms. Instead, it asks us to examine whether our systems, instruction, and decision-making create authentic opportunities for every student to access learning, participate meaningfully, develop positive relationships, and experience success.

Throughout this course, you will explore how inclusive systems rely on collaborative practices by all teachers and leaders to remove barriers and strengthen belonging. Together, these approaches create classrooms where every student is welcomed, supported, challenged, and empowered to learn alongside their peers.

As you progress through this short course, you will be invited to engage in reflective activities, discussions and application tasks designed to deepen your understanding and connect the learning to your own practice. 

This is Module 1 of 3. You can register for the other two modules here:

Module 2

Module 3