26 High Leverage Practices (HLPs)

High-leverage practices are evidence-based teaching practices that maximize outcomes for students with disabilities. The Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) states that high-leverage practices (HLPs) are “frequently occurring, essential educational practices that all K-12 special educators should know how to do” (CEC, n.d.).

High leverage practices

High Leverage Practices (HLPs) are a major framework for special education that encompasses four main domains of practice. The Collaboration domain contains three sub-standards (HLPs 1 to 3), the Assessment domain contains three sub-standards (HLPs 4 to 6), the Social/Emotional/Behavioral (SEB) domain contains four sub-standards (HLPs 7 to 10), and the Instructional domain is the largest with 12 sub-standards (HLPs 11 to 22). The HLP website includes a brief description of each HLP and videos that demonstrate most of the Instructional domains and a few of the SEB domains. In addition, there are PDFs for each domain that go into detail about each individual practice and research evidence to support them.

• Collaboration – This is a link to a PDF that goes in depth into each individual Collaboration practice and provides research evidence and policy to support each one.
  • HLPs Collaboration Domain – This webpage includes a short description of each HLP (1 through 3), as well as a link to a PDF that more thoroughly describes each high leverage practice in this domain.
• Assessment – This is a link to a PDF that goes in depth into each individual Assessment practice and provides research evidence and policy to support each one.
  • HLPs Assessment Domain – This webpage includes a short description of each HLP (4 through 6), as well as a link to a PDF that more thoroughly describes each high leverage practice in this domain.
• Social/Emotional/Behavioral – This is a link to a PDF that goes in depth into each individual Social/Emotional/Behavioral practice and provides research evidence and policy to support each one. 
  • HLPs Social/Emotional/Behavioral Domain – This webpage includes a short description of each HLP (7 through 10), as well as a link to a PDF that more thoroughly describes each high leverage practice in this domain. In addition, videos are available for HLP 7 and HLP 8
• Instructional – This is a link to a PDF that goes in depth into each individual Instructional practice and provides research evidence and policy to support each one.
  • HLPs Instructional Domain – This webpage includes a short description of each HLP (11 through 22), as well as a link to a PDF that more thoroughly describes each high leverage practice in this domain. In addition, videos are available for each practice in the Instructional domain. Videos include key concepts, as well as a demonstration of certain skills.

resources

IRIS Center HLP resources – The IRIS Center has a number of resources available for exploring high leverage practices and building HLP knowledge. The Resources are organized within the four major HLP domains.

activities

HLP Instructional Domain Log: This is a log sheet where students can take notes on each practice within the instructional domain, first on the PDF describing the practice and then on the video. They are then asked to write a paragraph reflection on each practice. In that paragraph, they can reflect on if they have seen the practice being used or how they would use the practice in their classroom.