SPLASH is a 3-year professional development program designed to work with classroom teachers of students with moderate and severe disabilities. The program targets new teachers and employs methods aimed at supporting rural classrooms. The training content focuses on evidence-based practices in English language arts, mathematics, and science, as…

Public school systems employ a range of professionals to provide support to children and youth in schools. For students living in poverty and experiencing trauma, the work of these professionals is particularly necessary and urgent. Ranging from the treatment of acute mental health issues and accommodations for students with special needs, to…

The preparation of culturally and linguistically responsive special educators requires planning, substantive collaboration, and valuing the perspectives of underrepresented groups. This article describes restructuring efforts of one special education preparation program that included coursework and field-based experiences designed to enhance…

Describes the Kaleidoscope, a conference activity designed to make special needs personnel and other interested individuals aware of a variety of new techniques, materials, and programs for handicapped, disadvantaged, and limited English proficiency learners. Subjects include evaluating software for disabled learners, workshops, competency-based…

Discussed are case studies of four early childhood special education programs, selected to represent a variety of approaches to early childhood special education decision-making and a variety of settings. The case studies focus on issues in diagnostic assessment and are used as the basis for assessment guidelines. (Author/MSE)

This article describes an early intervention model for enhancing developmental opportunities for a child with a disability by expanding on and strengthening the parent-child relationship in a group environment. The theoretical underpinnings and components of the Parents Interacting with Infants model are discussed, along with practice indicators…

The report presents detailed descriptions of 12 exemplary secondary vocational education programs for students with special needs. Programs were selected by a panel of experts from 250 nominated projects and programs, of whom 96 completed a lengthy questionnaire. Site visits were made to each of the 12 finalists. Criteria for selection included…

The report presents detailed descriptions of 10 secondary vocational education programs selected as exemplifying creative approaches to serving the needs of students with special needs. Programs were selected by a panel of experts from among 250 nominees, of whom 96 completed a lengthy questionnaire. Site visits were made to each program. Criteria…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of a multi-site, multi-state outreach training project that used information generated from a proven model of exemplary practices previously funded by an early childhood education model demonstration program. The outreach training and technical assistance was developed in conjunction with…

This article describes BEGINNINGS, an interim Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) for use in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). It discusses the rationale that supports the process, the format, and recommendations for its implementation. The program's early intervention services help to identify supports and to facilitate transition to…

This final report discusses the activities and outcomes of a 3-year project designed to replicate a uniquely successful training model for involving physicians in community early intervention systems. The Caring for Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities: New Roles for Physicians (CFIT) model includes three replicable components: state planning,…

This article describes the Kentucky Teacher Internship Program, a year long supervised internship that provides support and assistance to all of Kentucky's first-year interdisciplinary early childhood educators by a team of resource teachers, principals, and teacher educators. Implementation challenges are discussed, as well as suggestions for…

This final report discusses the outcomes of Project STEPS (Sequenced Transition to Education in the Public Schools), an outreach project designed to provide training and technical assistance to states and territories in the development of a statewide transition system for children with disabilities, birth through 5 years of age. The focus of the…

Measures of quality are now in widespread use across states as part of quality improvement initiatives. For example, many states are currently using global measures of quality that were first developed for research and practice purposes (such as the Environmental Rating Scales) in their Quality Rating Systems (QRSs). Although global quality…

This article describes a system of supports for implementing the "Steps to Self-Determination" curriculum and discusses findings from studies on the curriculum. Findings indicate teachers who are self-determined are better able to promote student self-determination and self-determination knowledge and skills can be infused successfully in a…