An alternative approach to the traditional diagnostic-prescrptive or medical model for classifying behavior disorders is proposed which considers topography of deviant behaviors, degree of exceptionality, nature of deviance, and events influencing the deviancy in the context of developing and monitoring education/treatment programs. (Author/CB)

Scores of 189 kindergarten on the McCarthy Screening Test and the SEARCH, were compared to subsequent school progress and performance on the Metropolitan Achievement Tests Series at the end of grades one and two. Only three of the tests' subtest and total scores achieved significant correlations with the Metropolitan. (Author/CL)

The response to a previous article by Mardell-Czednowski and Lessen notes the lack of common criteria for evaluating technical adequacy of assessment instruments used with handicapped children and stresses the need to evaluate instruments with the specific populations to which they are administered. (DB)

An assessment model is presented that provides a framework for the evaluation of young handicapped children and their families. The theoretical base of interactionism and role modeling along with the application of the diagnostic-prescriptive method provide the basis for the approach. (Author)

The article comments on a financial-service dilemma confronting school administrators who are required under provisions of P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, to provide a free, appropriate education for all handicapped pupils despite potentially inadequate excess cost reimbursements. (Author/CL)

This study found a significant relationship between the Kaufman Brief Intelligence Test (K-BIT) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-III (WISC-III) in 63 youth at a psychiatric hospital. A multiple regression equation was derived to provide an estimate of the WISC-III Full Scale Intelligence Quotient using the composites of the K-BIT.…

The study investigated the subtest scatter of 555 nonreferred elementary students of three ethnic backgrounds--Black, White, and Hispanic. The magnitude of the subtest scatter was similiar to A. Kaufman's analysis of the standardization data. The inclusion of the Hispanic group, however, produced a somewhat different pattern. (Author/CL)

In order to locate optimal cutoff scores for detecting developmental delays, the Brigance Screens were administered to 408 children (ages 21-48 months) along with a criterion battery measuring achievement and intelligence. The Receiver Operating Characteristic analyses were then used to locate optical cutoff scores for each form of the Brigance.…

This paper presents results of analyses of a questionnaire constructed for parents to detect student motivational problems and behavior patterns which may suggest an attention deficit disorder. Cross tabulations and analyses of variance demonstrated the scale's power to identify children with attention deficits. (DB)

Assessment of the impact of a collaborative inclusion model involving 670 students with disabilities in 26 schools revealed that student growth was similar in the inclusion and "pull-out" models, general and special education teachers felt quality of service had improved with inclusion, and inclusion was associated with lower rates of…

The Survey of Teenage Readiness and Neurodevelopmental Status (STRANDS), which includes a questionnaire and structured interview designed to assist in assessing learning problems in high school students, was administered to 54 older adolescents either normally achieving or with learning disabilities. Results provided preliminary support for the…

Eighty-seven elementary students in grades four, five, and six, were administered a 30-item multiplication instrument to assess performance in computation across grade levels. An interpretation of student performance using error ratio analysis is provided and the use of this method with groups of students for instructional decision making is…

This article summarizes some of the limited research on early language screening of at-risk children. Results of the review indicate the vast majority of literature related to this area dealt with speech as opposed to language screening. Further investigation of formal and informal screening methods is urged. (CR)

Sixty-two children (ages four and five) with mild mental retardation or learning disabilities were presented six cognitive tasks including two memory, three oddity, and a word definition task. Discriminant function analyses resulted in classification accuracy levels of 97% for children with mild mental retardation, 84% for children with learning…

A study investigated the effects of a more restrictive standard discrepancy model (SDM) on the learning-disability placement patterns of 4,100 students in Mississippi. Limiting eligibility to students who had achievement scores 1 1/2 standard deviations below their Full Scale IQ scores reduced eligible students from 124 to 36. (CR)