In response to public demands for better-quality high school graduates and to requirements of No Child Left Behind legislation, states have developed a variety of policies such as high-stakes exit exams and diploma options. Additionally, under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997, students with disabilities must be…

This Quick Turn Around issue analysis summarizes information gathered by Project FORUM on the disability terms used by state education agencies (SEAs). All 50 states and 6 non-state jurisdictions returned completed surveys between February and April 2001. Of the 56 respondents, 18 SEAs report having aligned their terminology completely with the 12…

A study analyzed the extent to which states implemented the transition services required by federal law during the 1993-94 through 1996-97 monitoring cycles. Results found many are not inviting students to their Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and that 50 percent did not have statements of needed transition services (Individualized…

This 2004 edition of "Part C Updates" is a compilation of information on various aspects of the Early Intervention Program for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities (Part C) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The intent of the compilation is to collect, in a convenient format, a variety of resources that meet the…

This report provides an overview of selected state initiatives related to the training and supervision of paraeducators serving students with disabilities. The five states highlighted in the document were selected because of the significant work each has done in the area of paraeducators. In all five states, paraeducator initiatives began prior to…

This document presents the proceedings of the sixth National Monitoring Conference concerned with implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Introductory material describes the purpose and background of the document and the federal monitoring of states, including the Continuous Improvement Monitoring Process (CIMP) and…

This report presents an analysis of the results of a survey of State Directors of Special Education on their state mediation systems. It notes requirements under the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that a mediation process must be available to parents desiring its use in conflict resolution. This report…

This document presents findings from interviews conducted to obtain information on changes that have occurred in state Special Education Advisory Panels (SEAPs) since the passage of the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The interviews investigated general organizational changes, SEAP involvement in the…

This article examines how states are responding to requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act for development of large-scale alternate assessment and accountability of learners with significant disabilities. It stresses the need for a deliberate process that focuses on achieving meaningful outcomes within the context of…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that explored states' use of extended school year (ESY) programs for students with disabilities during the summer or other periods when school is not in session. Six states were contacted to determine whether any changes had been made to their ESY programs since the inclusion of new regulations on ESY…

Under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), participating states and jurisdictions must provide services to children who are either experiencing developmental delays, or who have a diagnosed mental or physical condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay. Additionally, states may choose to…

This report discusses the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that require states to develop alternate assessments for students with disabilities who cannot participate in large-scale assessment programs. The report also profiles five state alternate assessment practices that have been developed or are emerging and…

This paper discusses the new Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1997 amendments that require states or local education agencies to develop guidelines for participation in alternate assessments for those children with disabilities who cannot participate in state and district-wide assessment programs. The policies and guidelines of 12…

This paper discusses the new Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1997 amendments that require states to develop guidelines for the participation of children with disabilities in alternate assessments who cannot participate in state and district-wide assessment programs. It describes and analyzes the efforts of 7 early starting states to…

The National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study (NEILS) is being conducted to address important questions related to the implementation and outcomes of Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). NEILS is following a nationally representative sample of children from birth to 3 years old and their families through and after…