Amy McCart

Amy McCart, Ph.D., is a Research Professor with the Life Span Institute and holds Adjunct Faculty status in the Department of Special Education at the University of Kansas. She earned her B.S. in Applied Behavioral Sciences with a focus on Human Development and Family Life in Early Childhood Education, her M.A. in Special Education, and her Ph.D. in Special Education, all from the University of Kansas. Throughout her career, Dr. McCart has dedicated herself to advancing inclusive education practices that promote equity for all students, particularly those from marginalized backgrounds and with extensive support needs.

As Director of the KU SWIFT Education Center, a national pre-K-12 research and technical assistance center, Dr. McCart leads efforts to improve educational outcomes through equity-based Multi-Tiered Systems of Supports (MTSS) and high-quality instructional leadership. She serves as Principal Investigator on multiple research projects examining the intersections of equity, inclusion, and MTSS implementation. Her partnerships with state education agencies, local districts, and schools span the United States, fostering sustainable schoolwide transformations. Dr. McCart has co-authored influential works, including the national best-seller Leading Equity-Based MTSS for All Students and Build Equity, Join Justice: A Paradigm for School Belonging. Key peer-reviewed publications include Choi, J. H., Sailor, W., McCart, A. B., & Meisenheimer, J. M. (2018) on effects of equity-based inclusive reform on math achievement; Sailor, W., McCart, A. B., & Choi, J. H. (2018) re-conceptualizing inclusive education via MTSS in Inclusion; Choi, J. H., et al. (2016) on improving learning through equity-based practices in Remedial and Special Education; McCart, A., et al. (2014) framework for inclusive delivery systems in Inclusion; and Shogren, K., et al. (2015) on building knowledge for inclusive transformation in Research & Practice for Persons with Severe Disabilities. Her contributions have shaped national dialogues on social justice, MTSS, and inclusive reform, impacting school practices coast-to-coast.

Professional Email: amymc@ku.edu