A computer software package called Schools Information Management Systems (SIMS) is available in Great Britain for application to special education uses. The system stores, manipulates, and retrieves information on pupils, medical examinations, staffing, individualized education programs, local resource management, timetables, and attendance.…

Limitations in standardized test use with Hispanic students are summarized and recent research developments supporting use of testing and assessment as tools for promoting learning are examined. Assisted performance and dynamic assessment are discussed in the context of individual education plans and a test-train-test cycle. (Author/MSE)

Discusses integration of students with severe disabilities, noting that programing is superior in integrated settings as illustrated by students' Individualized Education Programs. Various assessment tools help determine the extent to which best practices are being adhered to while attending to the individualized programing needs of students with…

Clarifies issues surrounding inclusion and describes the implementation of an appropriate educational program for an 11-year-old student with autism entering middle school. Discusses collaborative efforts of school staff, importance of shared leadership roles, adherence to appropriate due process, and analysis of the instructional environment in…

When it comes to the legal fight over special education that they have waged for the past seven years, Jocelyn S. and Martin P. Schaffer and their Maryland school district don't agree on much. But the two sides do see eye to eye on this: With the U.S Supreme Court's decision to review the Schaffers' case, the dispute suddenly has the potential to…

The shortage of special education teachers is due in part to high attrition, especially among new entrants. Improving teacher retention and quality requires a holistic view of new teachers' needs, an understanding of the contexts in which they work, as well as the types of support that are needed. A leader's model highlights major considerations…

School-wide positive behavior support (SWPBS) is a systematic and effective approach for broadly improving student behavior across school environments. SWPBS includes data-based strategies for supporting all students along a continuum of need and intensity based on a three-tiered model of prevention. Students with the most significant behavioral…

Positive behavior support (PBS) has evolved over the past 15 years from an individualized approach to behavior management to one with an increased focus on universal applications. Although there are clear areas of convergence between individualized and universal supports, it is also clear that the provision of individualized supports is an…

Since the passing of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act, Americans With Disabilities Act, and the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act, public and private schools have had to adapt the ways in which they provide education and services to their students and communities. It is essential for school public relations professionals to be…

This federally funded project analyzed data from a computerized individualized education plan (IEP) system, to examine factors relating to excellence in special education, with the goal of improving student assessment, evaluation, and outcomes in special education. This final report focuses on three research questions. The first question is…

A project developed and implemented a plan to retain those adult basic education students who are likely to be successful if they stay enrolled in the program but who are likely to drop out if program staff do not intervene. The plan involved use of an assessment instrument to identify these at-risk students, development of an individualized…

A major problem in mainstreaming and implementation of Public Law 94-142 has been in establishing evaluation criteria to determine appropriate learning environment placement. Providing appropriate education in the least restrictive environment is primarily the classroom teacher's responsibility, requiring decision-making based on these questions:…

Based on a state board of education program to individualize graduation requirements, called the Program Completion Alternative, this guide discusses how and why New Jersey school districts ought to develop a variety of ways for students to meet state and local requirements; outlines the alternative education programs made possible by the new…

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act requires an individualized education plan for all students identified as handicapped. While computer technology has application for greater individualization, no single method makes a perfect "fit" for all students. Social survival skills are vital elements of mainstreaming as well as academics.…

The Deans' Grant Project at Southern Illinois University at Carbondale was planned to prepare regular classroom teachers to work in the mainstreamed environment. Materials and strategies for introducing knowledge and skills into the core sequence of teacher education courses were developed. This volume contains materials and information for two of…