Factors That Predict Elementary Educators’ Perceptions and Practice in Teaching Self‐determination

Promoting self‐determination has been suggested as a means for students with disabilities to access the general curriculum. We surveyed 407 elementary educators to examine a) the effects of classroom setting and teaching self‐regulation strategies on the perceived importance and frequency of teaching self‐determination; and b) the severity level of student disability, teacher primary assignment, teaching experience, and classroom and school setting on self‐regulation instruction. Teaching experience and classroom setting predicted the use of self‐regulation strategies, but primary assignment, school setting, and student disability did not. Self‐regulation instruction predicted the frequency of teaching self‐determination, but neither it nor classroom setting predicted the perceived importance of teaching self‐determination. Limitations and implications of this study are discussed, and suggestions for future research are offered.