Bringing High-Leverage Practices to Every Classroom: A Practical Guide for Special Educators

High-leverage practices (HLPs) are not a new concept—they are the instructional strategies that have the greatest impact on student learning. Yet, for many special educators, integrating these practices effectively can feel overwhelming. The Practical Guide to High-Leverage Practices in Special Education: The Purposeful “How” to Enhance Classroom Rigor bridges this gap, offering a roadmap for educators at all levels to implement HLPs in ways that are both actionable and sustainable. 

Why This Book Matters

Co-authored by former practitioners, those with firsthand experience in special education classrooms, this book is designed to make research practical. None of the authors are still in the classroom, but they all had at least 5 years experience in P-12 before moving to higher education. Unlike many academic texts, it does not present HLPs as abstract concepts but as essential tools that educators already use—just with a common language to unify implementation across schools and districts across the country. The goal is simple: to support teachers in using what they already know in a more intentional and effective way. 

"We’re not asking teachers to do something new. We’re asking them to name it the same way their colleagues do, so that best practices are consistently applied and understood across the country." 

Check out this free chapter of the book on HLP 12: Systematically design instruction toward a specific learning goal. 

The Power of Common Language in Education 

One of the biggest challenges in education today is the lack of consistency. Unlike fields such as medicine, where practices and terminology remain uniform regardless of state or region, education operates with varied approaches. This inconsistency makes it harder for students—especially those receiving special education services—to transition smoothly when they move between schools or districts. 

DID YOU KNOW: When a student with an IEP transitions between states, it takes an average of six months for the IEP to be fully implemented? Read more.  

(Partners in Promise, 2021; MilitaryTimes, Feb. 3, 2022) 

HLPs provide a solution by offering a shared framework that all educators can use. Whether it’s systematic instruction (HLP 12), data-driven decision-making (HLPs 4 & 6), or collaboration with families (HLPs 1 & 3), these strategies ensure that special educators and general educators alike are speaking the same instructional language.  

Making High-Leverage Practices Work in the Classroom 

For educators wondering how to make HLPs part of their daily practice, the book offers step-by-step guidance, with each chapter covering a different HLP. One example is systematic instruction, which is closely tied to data-driven planning. Before teachers can design effective instruction, they need to understand where their students are starting from—much like reading a menu before ordering a dish. By defining each step clearly, this book removes guesswork and empowers teachers to implement practices with confidence. 

"Our job as educators is to take the weight off teachers’ shoulders—giving them practical, ready-to-use strategies instead of adding to their workload." 

Collaboration: The Heart of Special Education 

No teacher works in isolation. Special education thrives on collaboration, and this book reinforces that by emphasizing strategies that connect educators, whether within a school or across districts. HLPs aren’t just for special educators—general educators also use these practices, such as intensifying instruction (HLP 20) and making instructional decisions based on data (HLPs 4 & 6). 

Bringing HLPs into Your Professional Development 

For educators looking to deepen their understanding, CEC offers professional resources and opportunities for enhanced learning.  

Webinar: Introducing the Updated High-Leverage Practices for Students with Disabilities 

This webinar introduces the High-Leverage Practices for Students with Disabilities (2nd Edition), which has been revised and updated to reflect the challenges of modern classrooms. Presenters introduce the terms pillar and embedded HLPs. 

Final Takeaway 

The most important message of the book is that educators are not being asked to reinvent the wheel. Instead, they are given a clear, research-backed framework that enhances the work they are already doing. By adopting a shared language and structured approach, special educators can elevate their practice, improve student outcomes, and strengthen the field as a whole. 

Interested in learning more? The High-Leverage Practices (HLPs) website serves as a comprehensive resource for educators, administrators, and teacher educators looking to implement effective instructional strategies that improve student outcomes. Key features of the site include: 

• Overview of HLPs – Explains the foundational role of high-leverage practices in special education and their alignment with evidence-based practices. 

• Organized HLP Framework – Divides HLPs into four key domains: Collaboration, Assessment, Social/Emotional/Behavioral Practices, and Instruction. 

• Practical Resources – Provides guides, videos, and instructional materials to support educators in applying HLPs in real-world classroom settings. 

• Professional Development Tools – Offers webinars, training modules, and book studies to help educators deepen their understanding and implementation of HLPs. 

This site is a go-to resource for anyone seeking to bridge the gap between research and classroom practice, ensuring that all students, especially those with disabilities, receive high-quality instruction. 

Kyena Cornelius, Ed.D. is a Clinical Associate Profession of Special Education at the University of Florida. She spent 12 years teaching across the country and internationally before entering higher education. Her primary focus is on elevating the teaching profession. Dr. Cornelius aims to accomplish this through her research interests of special education teacher quality and instructional practices.

Dr. Cornelius co-authored; The Practical Guide to High-Leverage Practices in Special Education: The Purposeful "How" to Enhance Classroom Rigor and is currently partnering on a second text; Assessment in Special Education: A Practical Guide. Dr. Cornelius is also the Past-President of the Teacher Education Division, of the Council for Exceptional Children and Co-Editor of TEACHING Exceptional Children.