Jennifer A. Kurth

Jennifer A. Kurth
  • Professor, Special Education
  • Chair, Special Education
  • School of Education and Human Sciences, Special Education

Contact Info

Office Phone:
785-864-4954
Joseph R. Pearson Hall, room #541
1122 W. Campus Road
Lawrence, KS 66045-3101
Haworth Hall, room #3145

Personal Links

Biography —

Dr. Jennifer Kurth is Associate Professor of Special Education at the University of Kansas, and affiliated faculty at the University of Kansas Center on Excellence in Developmental Disabilities. Her academic interests include methods implementing inclusive education, including methods of embedding critical instruction within the context and routines of general education as well as methods of providing appropriate supports and services for individual learners. Dr. Kurth’s research also examines how teachers, students, and family’s interactions support and constrain learning and socialization in general education classrooms. She also studies how teacher candidates develop their dispositions and skills in inclusive practices. Dr. Kurth’s research interests in inclusive education also include examining outcomes of inclusion in terms of skill development and quality of life indicators for students with disabilities.

Research —

Research interests:

  • Inclusive Education
    Low-Incidence Disabilities

Teaching —

Teaching interests:

  • Inclusive Education
    Low-Incidence Disabilities

Selected Publications —

Kurth, J. A., & Zagona, A. L. (2018). Involvement of students with severe disabilities in SWPBIS [Journal Articles]. The Journal of Special Education, 52, 131–141. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022466918766523
Morningstar, M. E., Kurth, J. A., & Johnson, P. E. (2017). Examining the past decade of education settings for students with significant disabilities [Journal Articles]. Remedial and Special Education, 38, 3–12.
Kurth, J. A., Zagona, A. L., & Enyart, M. (2017). Inclusion of students with significant disabilities in SWPBS evaluation tools [Journal Articles]. Education and Treatment in Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 52, 383–392.
Love, H., Zagona, A. L., Kurth, J. A., & Miller, A. L. (2017). Parents’ experiences in education decision-making for children and youth with disabilities. In Inclusion (Vol. 5, Issues 158–172).
Zagona, A., Kurth, J. A., & MacFarland, S. (2017). Teachers’ views of their preparation for inclusive education and collaboration [Journal Articles]. Teacher Education and Special Education, 40, 163–178.
Kurth, J. A., & Forber-Pratt, A. (2017). Views of inclusive education from the perspectives of pre-service and mentor teachers [Journal Articles]. Inclusion, 5, 189–202.
Kurth, J. A., & Enyart, M. (2016). Schoolwide positive behavior supports and students with severe disability: Where are we? [Journal Articles]. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities , 41, 216–222.
Kurth, J. A., Born, K., & Love, H. (2016). Ecobehavioral characteristics of self-contained high school classrooms for students with severe cognitive disability [Journal Articles]. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 41, 227–243. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540796916661492
Kurth, J. A., Mastergeorge, A. M., & Paschall, K. A. (2016). Economic and demographic factors impacting placement of students with autism.  [Journal Articles]. Education and Training in Autism and Developmental Disabilities, 51, 3–12.
Morningstar, M. E., Allcock, H., Taub, D., Kurth, J. A., Gonsier-Gerdin, J., Ryndak, D., Sauer, J., & Jorgensen, C. (2016). TASH inclusive education national research agenda: A call to action and advocacy [Journal Articles]. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities , 41, 227–243. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540796916650975
Kurth, J. A., Lyon, K., & Shogren, K. A. (2015). Supports provided to students with severe disabilities in inclusive classrooms:  Lessons learned from schools implementing inclusive practices. [Journal Articles]. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 40, 261–274.
Kurth, J. A. (2015). Educational placement of students with autism: Impact of state of residence [Journal Articles]. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disorders, 30, 249–256. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357614547891
Bartz, J., Kurth, J. A., & Wangeman, M. (2015). Facilitating supports and services for individuals with low-incidence disabilities [Book Chapters]. In E. A. West (Ed.), Including Learners with Low-Incidence Disabilities: International Perspectives on Inclusive Education. Emerald.
Kurth, J. A., Lyon, K. J., & Shogren, K. A. (2015). Supporting students with severe disabilities in inclusive schools:  A descriptive account from schools implementing inclusive practices [Journal Articles]. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 40, 261–274. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540796915594160
White, J., Kurth, J. A., McCord, J., & Stonemeier, J. (2015). TASH inclusive education town hall: Access to communication and high quality instruction in the least restrictive environment [Journal Articles]. TASH Connections, 41, 6–12.
Kurth, J. A., Morningstar, M. E., & Kozleski, E. B. (2015). The Persistence of Highly Restrictive Special Education Placements for Students with Low-Incidence Disabilities [Journal Articles]. Research and Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities, 39(3), 227–239. https://doi.org/10.1177/1540796914555580
Kurth, J. A., & Gross, M. (2014). The Inclusion Toolbox: Strategies and techniques for all teachers [Books]. Corwin Press.
Kurth, J. A., Knackstedt, K., & Kozleski, E. B. (2014). Indicator 5, Part B, Environments A, B, and C: Percent of children with IEPs aged 6 through 21.  [Reports]. In Office of Special Education Programs. Office of Special Education Programs.
Kurth, J. A. (2014). How to make adaptations to include students with special needs [Web Publishing (article, blog, etc.)].
Gonsier-Gerdin, J., & Kurth, J. A. (2014). Inclusive Education Course Enhancement Module [Instructional Materials]. In Collaboration for Effective Education Development, Accountability, and Reform (CEEDAR) Center.
Kurth, J. A., & Foley, J. A. (2014). Reframing teacher education: Preparing teachers for inclusive education [Journal Articles]. Inclusion, 4(2), 286–300. https://doi.org/10.1352/2326-6988-2.4.286
Marks, S. U., Kurth, J. A., & Pirtle, J. M. (2014). The Effect of “Measurable and Rigorous” State Performance Goals for Addressing "FAPE within the LRE for School-Aged Students.”  [Journal Articles]. Inclusion, 1(3), 209–217. https://doi.org/10.1352/2326-6988-1.3.209
Kurth, J. A. (2013). A unit-based approach to specific adaptations for  secondary English content [Journal Articles]. Teaching Exceptional Children, 46(2), 34–43.
Marks, S. U., & Kurth, J. A. (2013). Examination of disproportionality of autism in school-aged populations in the US [Journal Articles]. The Journal of the International Association of Special Education, 14(1), 9–21.

Selected Presentations —

Kurth, J. A. (8/31/2016). Better Together. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Intellectual Disability Conference. Madison, WI
Kurth, J. A. (8/31/2016). The case for inclusive education. Wisconsin Department of Public Instruction, Intellectual Disability Conference. Madison, WI
Kurth, J. A. (7/31/2016). Better Together. SWIFT Professional Learning Institute. Arlington, VA
Kurth, J. A. (7/31/2016). Educational decision making: Parent perspectives. SWIFT Professional Learning Institute. Arlington, VA
Kurth, J. A. (7/31/2016). Strategies for including all students. SWIFT Professional Learning Institute. Arlington, VA
Kurth, J. A., Miller, A., Love, H., & Zagona, A. (6/30/2016). Family perspectives of educational placement and decision-making for children and youth with intellectual and developmental disabilities. American Association of Intellectual and Development Disabilities. Atlanta, GA
Kurth, J. A. (4/30/2016). Eco-behavioral characteristics of self-contained special education classrooms: Is exclusion justified?. American Educational Researcher Association. Washington, DC
Morningstar, M., & Kurth, J. A. (4/30/2016). Examining the past decade of educational settings for students with severe disabilities. American Educational Researcher Association. Washington, D.C
Morningstar, M., & Kurth, J. A. (4/30/2016). Examining the past decade of educational settings for students with severe disabilities. Council for Exceptional Children. St. Louis, MO
Kurth, J. A. (4/30/2016). Investigating the ecobehavioral characteristics of self-contained classrooms: Is exclusion justified. Council for Exceptional Children. St. Louis, MO
Kurth, J. A. (4/30/2016). Variables associated with educational placement of children with autism. Council for Exceptional Children. St. Louis, MO
Enyart, M., Kurth, J. A., Rahm, S., & Taylor, J. (3/31/2016). Inside out: Transforming perceptions, practice, and purpose in juvenile corrections with OW-PBS. Association of Positive Behavior Support. San Francisco, CA
Kurth, J. A., & Enyart, M. (3/31/2016). Schoolwide PBS and students with significant disabilities: Where are we?. Association of Positive Behavior Supports. San Francisco, CA
Kurth, J. A. (12/31/2015). The myths vs. reality of self-contained classrooms for students with intellectual disability. TASH. Portland, OR

Awards & Honors —

University of Kansas School of Education Faculty Achievement Award for Promising Scholar
University of Kansas School of Education
2016

Grants & Other Funded Activity —

Strengthening outcomes for all learners in regular settings. Office of Special Education Programs. $1249988.00. Submitted 12/1/2015 (8/1/2016 - 7/31/2017). Federal. Status: Funded
Case Study of Inclusive and Segregated Classrooms for Students with Severe Cognitive Disabilities. KU New Faculty General Research Fund. $8000.00. Submitted 4/1/2014 (7/1/2014 - 7/31/2016). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded
Educational Placement for Students with Autism: Parent Perspectives. $7419.00. (7/1/2015 - 6/30/2016). University (KU or KUMC). Status: Funded