Evaluating School Inclusion: A Shared Quality Index for Developing a More Inclusive Education for All

School inclusion is an educational philosophy that ensures every student, regardless of individual characteristics, abilities, personal circumstances, or social conditions, is fully engaged and actively participating in the educational experience. This philosophy values diversity and promotes acceptance of individual differences within the school environment. Despite international and national support for inclusive education, practical approaches often still favour “integration,” an “assimilation” model where disabled students adapt to a structure primarily designed for typical students. This paper underscores the importance of evaluating inclusion policies both at individual institutions and within the broader educational system, focusing on the Italian context. Effective assessment is complex, requiring thorough methodological reflection to establish shared evaluation frameworks.

In Italy, while the regulatory framework aligns with UNESCO’s vision, actual implementation represents a significant weakness. A systemic approach to inclusion positions evaluation as a critical tool for fostering inclusive school development. Although frameworks and indicators for evaluating inclusive education exist, few studies have examined Italian school inclusion as a transformative process for the entire education system.

Our project seeks to evaluate school inclusion through a systemic lens, developing a comprehensive inclusion index that consolidates established national and international indicators alongside new ones. Special attention is given to School Self-Evaluation (SSE), recognizing its potential to drive inclusive change within schools.

A well-constructed school inclusion index enables targeted allocation of funds to socially vulnerable schools and allows for ongoing monitoring of inclusion measures at regional, provincial, and national levels, reducing waste and improving efficacy.

This paper presents an ongoing research project outlining objectives and methodology. A group of schools across different regions of the country participate in a cooperative process through Action Research and peer school collaboration.