The development of an architecture for knowledge management in special education

This study was designed to provide a framework that supports the development and implementation of a knowledge management system in special education by analyzing the perception of leaders within the field of special education regarding knowledge management. This study also examined the correlation between areas in special education, and areas in business that were identified as highly beneficial for a knowledge management system and identified practices related to knowledge management in the field of business that may benefit the development of a knowledge management system in special education.; This study was a modification and extension of a dissertation study conducted by Charles Bixler at The George Washington University (2000) designed to provide a framework for knowledge management in a technical enterprise. The 128 participants in the study completed an author-developed questionnaire, The Knowledge Management Questionnaire, which was based on the Bixler (2000) study. This questionnaire that examined the value of knowledge management in special education and its relationship to organizational communication, systemic organizational change and technology, collectively termed the "concept of care" in this study. The term concept of care has been studied in the literature in relationship to business knowledge management systems and its examination within this study helps to establish a bridge between business systems that focus on products and services as opposed to systems with special education that focus on outcomes for individuals with disabilities. The analysis of variance, Pearsons correlation, one sample t-test and the general linear model univerate procedure were used in testing the hypotheses of the study at p < .05.; The analysis of the data indicates that leaders within the field of special education perceive knowledge management to be valuable to the field of special education and the data identifies specific areas, necessary practices and expected benefits related to that perception. In addition, the data found there was some correlation between areas perceived to be a high potential area in business for knowledge management and areas perceived to be a high potential area for knowledge management in special education. This indicates possible areas of future research and suggestions, and best practices that may be beneficial in special education. The data also indicates that the concept of care does affect the perception of perceived benefit of knowledge management for educational leaders.; Very few studies address knowledge management and special education and further research is needed to examine the emergence of practices that support knowledge management at the federal, state, local and across education and other agencies that provide benefits to children with disabilities.