Rate My Professor Amy McCart

Amy McCart is a prominent figure in Education, recognized for her expertise in special education, equity, and inclusive practices. She serves as Research Professor at the University of Kansas Life Span Institute and holds Adjunct Faculty status in the Department of Special Education. McCart earned her B.S. in Applied Behavioral Sciences with an emphasis on Human Development and Family Life: Early Childhood Education, an M.A. in Special Education, and a Ph.D. in Special Education, all from the University of Kansas. Throughout her career, she has focused on improving student outcomes by integrating equity, inclusion, and Multi-Tiered Systems of Support (MTSS). As Co-Director of the SWIFT Education Center, a national pre-K-12 research and technical assistance center at KU, she leads efforts to enhance educational results for all students, with particular attention to students of color and those requiring extensive support. Her role as Principal Investigator on multiple center projects involves developing high-quality instructional leaders and fostering effective MTSS implementation across state education agencies, local education agencies, and schools nationwide.

McCart's contributions to the academic field include influential publications that shape inclusive education practices. She co-authored the national bestseller 'Leading Equity-Based MTSS for All Students' (Corwin, 2020) with Dawn Miller, providing a framework for equitable schoolwide support systems. Another key work, 'Build Equity, Join Justice: A Paradigm for School Belonging' (MIT Press, 2023), co-authored with Wayne Sailor and Wade Kelly, explores paradigms for fostering school belonging and social justice. Her peer-reviewed articles address critical topics such as the impact of equity-based inclusive reforms on math achievement for students with Individualized Education Programs, reconceptualizing inclusive education via MTSS, and the development of fidelity tools like the Schoolwide Integrated Framework for Transformation. Additional contributions include white papers and technical briefs on differentiated technical assistance, inclusive delivery systems, and family engagement in early childhood Response to Intervention. Through extensive partnerships coast-to-coast, McCart has profoundly influenced educational transformation, promoting rightful presence and systemic change to better the lives of children in diverse learning environments.