Classic Articles in Special Education

There is little consensus regarding which articles have shaped the field of special education and are therefore classics. To begin to address this issue, this article uses an objective, data-based procedure to identify the 50 most frequently cited articles in general special education journals (i.e., Exceptional Children, Remedial and Special Education, and The Journal of Special Education) over the last 40 years. These articles address the major trends in the field of special education, such as school reform, inclusion, and mainstreaming; families and early childhood education; and assessment and classification of students with disabilities. From among these 50 articles, 10 are subjectively identified as classics that have shaped the field of special education. A rationale is provided for the selection of each of these articles.