Some of the essential characteristics of co-teaching include the following:

Co-teaching is a service delivery option. It is a means through which students with IEPs receive some or all of their specialized instruction and related services in the context of the general education classroom.

Two or more professionals with equivalent licensure or status are co-teachers, one who is a general educator and one who is a special educator or specialist.

Both professionals participate fully, although differently, in the instructional process. General educators maintain primary responsibility for the content of the instruction; special educators hold primary responsibility for facilitating the learning process. Instruction employs evidence-based practices and accountable differentiation.

The students are heterogeneously grouped as a class, and both teachers work with all students. Various combinations of students and group sizes are used, so each student’s educational potential is realized. Co-teachers are firmly committed to “our” students, not “yours” and “mine.”

Just as important as clarifying the characteristics of co-teaching is noting what it is not. It is not a general education classroom with one “real” teacher and one who serves as “the help” or “an extra set of hands.” Nor is it a pullout special education program that has been re-located to the corner of a general education classroom.



Taken from the article, "Is Co-Teaching Effective?", by Marilyn Friend and DeAnna Hurley-Chamberlain.