Whole-School Inclusion Programs and Student Academic and Behavioral Outcomes

This study examines the impact of a nationally scaled whole-school inclusion initiative—the Special Olympics Unified Champion Schools (UCS) program—on student academic and behavioral outcomes. Using 11 years of student-level administrative data from North Carolina and a difference-in-differences design, we analyze how exposure to UCS relates to standardized test scores, GPA, graduation rates, absenteeism, and disciplinary incidents. Results show that longer participation in UCS is associated with improved academic performance and reductions in absenteeism and suspensions, particularly for students with intellectual disabilities. Subgroup analyses suggest larger effects for students from low-income backgrounds. As the first student-level evaluation of UCS using a rigorous empirical design, this study provides new evidence on the academic and behavioral benefits of whole-school inclusion programs. Findings highlight the potential of sustained, schoolwide approaches to support positive outcomes for students with and without disabilities and inform future efforts to strengthen inclusive practices in educational settings.