This manuscript presents findings from a study of the contributing factors and details of special education due process hearings in the United States that involved students with emotional and behavioral disorders. The study examined 101 due process hearings conducted over a three-year period in a five-state sample: California, Illinois,…

Alternative Individualized Education Program (IEP) dispute resolution models should respond to limitations of current options. An experimental IEP dispute resolution program provides parents and schools with an evidence-supported neutral perspective on what is needed for free and appropriate education (FAPE) and least restrictive environment…

Of the three formal dispute resolution procedures provided by the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act of 2004(IDEA), due process hearings are the most costly in terms of time, fiscal resources, and impact on relationships between school personnel and parents. This study examined 258 due process hearings held over the past 8 years in…

This report has been provided to the Legislature on an annual basis since the year 2000. This report is issued in the context of a change in focus for the U.S. Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), the federal agency which oversees the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) implementation in each state. OSEP's new accountability…

Presented in this document are a description of Chapter 766, Massachusetts legislation governing education for youth with special needs, and a compilation of guidelines and procedures affecting the core evaluation of student turned over to the Department of Youth Services (DYS) by the courts. Requirements of the Core Evaluation Team (CET) and core…

This report has been provided to the Legislature on an annual basis since 2000 when the legislature amended the language of G.L. c. 71B to align Massachusetts special education terminology with the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). This year reports the context of a major change in the way state systems of special…

Comparison of computerized and noncomputerized individualized education program (IEP) preparation with 45 special education teachers in 12 Massachusetts districts indicated that teachers using computerized IEP systems spent less time writing IEPs, had a more favorable attitude toward the IEP for instructional planning, and lowered costs for IEP…

This packet, a product of the Advancing Educational Techniques (AET) Project, addresses the theme of empowerment on the part of those working with children who are differently able. The first section explores the concept of empowerment as addressed in current literature and includes an annotated bibliography. Other sections of the packet focus on:…

The paper explores recent legal and programmatic changes in the education of the handicapped in Massachusetts. A first section highlights some aspects of the law, including court interpretations of the meaning of "appropriate education" and examples of state legal standards that are different than federal standards. Also addressed are…

This guide is intended to provide information to Massachusetts school districts and families regarding the availability of, access to, and payment mechanisms for assistive technology devices and services. The first section answers 13 questions concerning topics such as the difference between an assistive technology device and an assistive…

This paper presents results of a survey of Massachusetts parents of children with disabilities concerning implementation of the child's Individualized Education Plan (IEP). Survey respondents (N=400) addressed the following issues: quality of educational and related services; access to the general curriculum in the least restrictive environment;…

Examines recent legal and programmatic changes in the education of the handicapped in Massachusetts. Highlights State standards in the areas of program delivery, identification and placement, and the use of individual educational plans. Raises issues of validation and possible inequity. (FMW)