Within adapted physical education (APE), there is a lack of knowledge regarding content and attitudes toward curricular domains, which can influence student learning. This study assessed APE teachers' attitudes toward four curricular domains. Participants (n = 219) completed a modified version of the Attitudes Toward Curriculum in Physical…

Legislation has mandated that secondary schools provide services for students with disabilities that prepare them for independent living, employment, and/or post-secondary education (IDEA, 2004). This study examined the perceptions of special education directors, assistant directors/program coordinators, and secondary special education teachers…

Special education paraprofessionals are often employed to support students with disabilities in general education classrooms absent the special education teacher. Little research exists to determine what school administrators think about this practice. The purpose of this study was to learn from special education administrators in Massachusetts…

The purpose of this study is to investigate factors that may influence school administrators' disciplinary decisions involving students with disabilities. Confirmatory factor analysis suggests that the investigator-developed measures adequately represent the hypothesized latent factors per the pattern of observed responses. The hypothesized…

The 2004 amendment of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) required major changes for schools in educating students with disabilities. For teachers, this act brought new challenges to the general education classroom. Guided by the conceptual frameworks of Moustakas and Cresswell, this phenomenological study examined the attitudes…

This dissertation presents the findings of a descriptive, survey-based study of special education paraeducators and their self-reported perceptions about the adequacy of their ongoing professional development training in Arizona school districts. The results show that school districts in Arizona are not spending adequate time in preparing special…

Students with disabilities are faced with many challenges as they transition from high school to postsecondary education, enter the workforce, and begin independent living. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 (IDEA) initially addressed these challenges by mandating that transition planning be included as a part of the…

This article describes the impact of a MAPS process on team member agreement on postsecondary expectations and goals for a middle school student with Autism Spectrum Disorders in a rural area. The results revealed similarities and differences in the beliefs and expectations of the participants on the transition team and that the MAPS approach…

This study sought to assess teacher candidates' knowledge of special education policies and procedures as mandated by the federal government. It also examines factors associated with accurate knowledge. A sample of 111 teacher candidates, drawn from a Missouri private university, completed a survey. Overall, teacher candidates lacked accurate…

Since the reauthorization of 2003, schools across the nation are mandated to educate students within the regular educational environment. What impact does this merger have on students and teachers? Who really benefits from this merger of regular education and special education? This article discusses the attitudes of general education teachers…

Universities are providing extra time on tests, quiet exam rooms, in-class note-takers, and other assistance to college students with modest learning disabilities. But these policies are shrouded in secrecy. This paper, "Accommodating College Students with Learning Disabilities: ADD, ADHD, and Dyslexia," by Melana Zyla Vickers, examines…

The reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 emphasized the use of positive behavioral interventions, supports, and services for students with disabilities who display challenging behaviors. Unfortunately, most teachers and schools still lack systems for identification, adoption, and sustained use of these…

Fifteen years after the first charter school legislation was passed, the number of charter schools opening in the United States each year continues to grow. In 2000, research was conducted to examine the extent and quality of service to students with disabilities in Texas's charter schools. Descriptive statistics and structured interviews were…

The purpose of this study is to compare attitudes toward inclusion among general education (GE) and special education (SE) teachers. Between 1997 and 2007, many changes took place within the Individuals with Disabilities Act and in 2002 the introduction of No Child Left Behind. This meta-synthesis examines the teacher's attitude towards inclusion.…

There is a paucity of research related to the implementation of the procedural regulations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 in public schools. Section 504 is a general education civil rights law designed to provide access for students with disabilities. This study presents data from a survey that was distributed to a range of…