The majority of school-age children with or displaying characteristics of a mental health disorder do not independently seek help, often go undiagnosed or undetected, and fail to receive treatment or intervention leaving them susceptible to and at risk for poor school and life outcomes. In response to these concerns and in an effort to improve the…

These guidelines are intended to help New York State school districts: (1) develop procedures for identifying gifted students and (2) use the information obtained through identification procedures as a basis for deciding how educational programs and services can be modified to serve the students. Initial sections of the manual define giftedness…

This brief guide outlines best practices in preschool screening for the presence of possible disabilities. It covers: a definition of screening, its history, the rationale for screening, requirements for effective screening measures (reliability, validity, fairness, utility), models for preschool screening, evaluation of screening procedures, and…

The publication is intended to help those wishing to establish educational programs for handicapped preschoolers. Nine topic areas are addressed: (1) assessing local service needs; (2) identifying available funding sources; (3) choosing a program site; (4) locating and accessing referral services (suggested strategies for generating referrals);…

This article describes one school district's efforts to improve the identification procedures for an elementary pullout program for gifted students through systematic reassessment and revision. Revisions made in the areas of student nomination, data gathering, data synthesis, diagnostic assessment, and validation are discussed. Results from…

This guide outlines the process of screening preschool-age children in North Dakota to determine their need for special education services. As mass screenings were found to lack cost-effectiveness, selective screening is encouraged. A periodic selective screening process, using a coordinated, interagency approach, is recommended for the earliest…

The monograph presents essential components of a decision making sequence used to incorporate formalized family assessment and service planning procedures into two existing early intervention programs in Massachusetts. The 1-year effort used a consultant to: (1) redefine screening and assessment processes to include both child and family centered…

The manual outlines procedures for Florida school districts in serving students with speech and language impairments. State and federal regulations are cited at the beginning of each section with recommended best practices for their implementation in the following 15 areas: definition, eligibility criteria, screening, referral, evaluation,…

A shortage of occupational therapists as well as fiscal constraints have made it difficult to meet the legal mandate under Public Law 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act) that occupational therapy be provided as a related service to handicapped children when needed to enable them to benefit from special education programs. A review…

A workshop designed to present teachers and administrators with information on assessment issues and instruments related to developmentally appropriate practices in early childhood classrooms is presented in this guide for trainers. The workshop is process-oriented, meaning that participants will be engaged in activities that require them to…

A national survey examined state policies for identification of gifted students who are culturally different, economically disadvantaged, disabled, or in some way at risk. Progress was found in the areas of greater public awareness, screening procedures, formal identification processes, and program initiatives. A sidebar describes the Jacob K.…

A handbook for teachers and administrators of second language programs in Alberta's schools suggests principles and guidelines for planning, developing, implementing, and evaluating full or partial immersion programs, focusing on the framework for program planning and implementation, information for developing realistic program expectations, and…

This guide provides Vermont school districts with resources for offering equal education to limited-English-proficient students. It is organized according to a series of legal obligations to this population. The first four sections outline education-related rights and obligations, provide background information on second language acquisition and…