We describe a decision protocol for choosing among potentially efficacious toilet training interventions and tested its effects with 3 preschool participants with disabilities. We utilized a decision protocol (Keohane and Greer 2005) to determine whether to initially implement interval or rapid training interventions as well as to determine…

The authors report on a yearlong investigation into similar schools that performed well and less well in the same district. They found that the higher-performing schools engaged in an intentional set of systemic practices that encourage Personalization for Academic and Social Learning (PASL) in one district and integrated structures of academic…

Individualized education programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities ages 16 and older must include a transition component. It is important for educators to understand the role transition assessment plays in developing a thorough transition component that includes measurable postsecondary goals, annual IEP goals, transition services, and a…

In most school systems in the United States, interscholastic sporting events and other extracurricular activities help bring people together while enhancing opportunities for students to become integral parts of their communities. Because of the important role that extracurricular activities, especially sports, play in the lives of students,…

Students with emotional and behavioral disabilities (EBD) have had difficulties in achieving educational, vocational, and community outcomes that would lead to personal success and satisfaction. Some of these outcomes relate to how special education transition programs integrate effective approaches to support success with these students. In this…

The role of the special educator has changed. Similar to general educators, special educators are more accountable, more specialized, and more collaborative. To be effective in this new role, special educators need to recommit to the founding principles of the discipline and embrace the tools that allow them to meet the needs of students with…

In this article the author provides legal explanations to the following concerns: (1) Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs); (2) Functional Behavior Assessments (FBAs) and Behavior Intervention Plans (BIPs); (3) Manifestation Determinations under Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA);…

An elementary school principal comments on the use of individualized education programs and notes problems to be resolved if IEP's become required for every child. (SS)

June 22, 2007, was the 25th anniversary of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision in Board of Education of the Hendrick Hudson Central School District v. Rowley (hereafter Rowley; 1982). In Rowley, the Supreme Court interpreted congressional intent in requiring that public schools provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to students with…

A student at Empire State College of the State University of New York studying under a mentor like Sharon Villines is likely to get college credit in a wider variety of subject areas than a candidate for a traditional bachelors degree. (MM)

A technique for analyzing patterns within a social system and how the classroom teacher can work toward a better understanding of student interaction is presented. A functional analysis of individually prescribed instruction is provided to illustrate eufunctional and dysfunctional elements within one particular teaching strategy. (Author)

The Personalized System of Instruction, devised by Keller and Sherman in the 1960's, is a course format that has been winning wide acceptance among university teachers in the past few years. In this article we indicate the main advantages that we see in the format, the modifications that we have made to adapt it to our needs, and some of the…

Presents 10 comprehensive objectives related to instituting shared decision-making and individualized education in secondary schools. Illustrates applications of each objective with features from schools. (Author/JM)

Because of current federal legislation, educators must assess children with possible handicapping conditions and plan an individual education program for each child with a special need. Discusses past measurement directions and makes recommendations for the assessment of bilingual, culturally different children. (Author)

This newsletter begins with an editorial on the purposes and methods of individualizing foreign language instruction. Mirta R. Vega describes an individualized Spanish course for English speakers, produced by the Dade Co. Public Schools, Miami, Florida. Also presented is a list, compiled by Robert McClennan, of the potential problems of foreign…