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Standards Open the Door for Best Practices From Special Ed.

Some instructional approaches associated closely with special education are gaining traction more quickly than ever as more states and districts look to them as the ideal tools to implement the Common Core State Standards .

In particular, two strategies—universal design for learning and response to intervention—are being cited by states in requests for waivers from the No Child Left Behind Act in the section about how they will implement the standards. Those familiar with the techniques say the pairings are logical, and the timing is right.

"To us, it makes perfect sense. With UDL, you really do start with addressing goals that are applicable for all learners," said Patti Ralabate, the director of implementation for the Center for Applied Special Technology in Wakefield, Mass.,...