The research described in this report attempts to estimate the costs of providing an appropriate education to all school-aged handicapped children by 1980-81. The study begins by addressing the aspects of special education that will help to predict future costs--patterns of growth to the present, legal and political mandates, the nature of various…

Based on findings of the most current and highly regarded evaluations and research reviews available, this committee print provides an update of a prior committee report (August, 1985) on eight cost-effective federal programs for children. Described in terms of program participation, characteristics, benefits for children, cost effectiveness, and…

A social anthropologist suggests that other decision making models besides the consensual one (which assumes that the public behaves in accordance with values and attitudes) should be adopted by education as a result of shrinking resources, and discusses approaches to making decisions resulting from P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped…

The summary of discussion from a 1980 Baltimore (MD) conference on implementing P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, in rural areas focuses on the problems facing special education in rural, remote, and isolated areas and suggests action for change. Work group recommendations are discussed for three main topics (sample…

All major aspects of P.L. 94-142--the concept of the least restrictive environment; due process procedures; individualized education programs; and parent involvement--were identified as problems for rural schools. Three primary hindering factors were identified: teacher retention and recruitment problems, rural attitudinal problems, and problems…

The costs involved in providing testing and placement for handicapped children, as required by the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, do not seem to have been taken into sufficient consideration by the legislators enacting the legislation. A study of the direct costs for providing minimal testing and placement services for the 58…

Despite problems, extraordinary progress has been made to provide a free and appropriate public education for handicapped students in rural America. A study of 75 school districts and cooperatives in 17 states revealed significant improvements in programs and services offered and types and ages of exceptional students served. Achievements included…

Rural school districts face nearly insurmountable obstacles to implementing the comprehensive special education programs mandated by PL 94-142, Education for All Handicapped Children Act. In order to identify workable strategies for rural special education delivery, a survey was conducted among state and local education agencies in 19 states…