Although studies suggest that local governance arrangements are important in mobilizing the support of local communities for the successful implementation of state policies, this meso-level of educational governance still does not figure prominently in developing and managing inclusive education (IE) policy and practice. Therefore, it is important to acknowledge the role those participating in the local governance of IE have in policymaking, and in designing and broadcasting consistent messages and guidelines regarding IE to school practitioners. An important role in supporting a more coherent vision of IE at all levels of educational governance lies on integrated monitoring and evaluation systems.
The first monitoring framework of IE in Serbia was developed by the Institute of Psychology in 2015, resulting in the first comprehensive report about IE in Serbia. This and other subsequent research pinpointed developments in IE but also missing links, including incoherent support to IE at a local level.
The current study puts the spotlight on exploring local level decision-making processes involved in IE policy implementation and aims at developing and piloting the framework for monitoring IE at a local level. The proposed methodology will utilize dynamic storytelling (Daiute, 2014; Daiute & Kovacs-Cerovic 2017) and change laboratory methodology (Engeström et al., 1996). Both methodologies nurture a participatory approach, and aim to collect data on the current state of IE, but also to empower participants to act, both individually and collectively, to advance IE at the local level.
The project team of Institute of Psychology includes Olja Jovanović Milanović, Tinde Kovač Cerović, Dragica Pavlović Babić and Tijana Jokić Zorkić.
The development of the framework is supported by the project ” Enhanced Equal Access to and Completion of Pre-University Education for Children in Need of Additional Support in Education” implemented by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technological Development and UNICEF, supported by the Delegation of the European Union in the Republic of Serbia.
