The relationships among the program, placement, and services for a student with disabilities when planning an appropriate education is discussed. A conceptualization of how these components can be approached in an interactive manner, rather than a strictly linear one, is offered within a framework consistent with the law. (Contains references.)…

This document provides answers to questions frequently asked by parents and practitioners about the mandates and requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (IDEA). The 29 questions are organized into six sections: (1) background information on the IDEA (history of IDEA, and obtaining copies of IDEA and…

This report of the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources favorably recommends the passage of amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to reauthorize and improve the act. Specific recommended improvements include: (1) decreasing paperwork, (2) providing increased flexibility and lower costs in the delivery of services,…

Input from a variety of viewpoints is essential in complex policy discussions. Families serving on local interagency coordinating councils (LICCs) and state interagency coordinating councils (SICCs) should reflect the diversity of families served within the early intervention or preschool service system with respect to income level, ethnicity,…

This brief paper examines issues in service delivery and collaborative partnerships in light of requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 and the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001, both of which emphasize the importance of providing access to the general curriculum for students with disabilities and…

This report provides descriptive information on variations in selected features of state and local early intervention systems. Information was gathered from 20 states as part of the National Early Intervention Longitudinal Study (NEILS). Results indicate a considerable variation along a number of dimensions, including: eligibility criteria; type…

This publication explains how some of the more significant 1999 regulations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act will affect schools providing services to children in need of special education. The analysis tracks the regulatory format used to organize the rules under Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The selected…

This article analyzes provisions of the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, specifically regulations and relevant case law concerning provision of services to students in private schools. It offers guidelines for implementing the new provisions and suggestions for how to avoid violating the establishment clause in…

This final report discusses the outcomes of a study that examined how charter school developers have used the opportunities provided by their charters to serve students with disabilities. Between March 1998 and June 1999, 32 public charter schools in 15 states were visited and 151 parents of students with disabilities, 196 teachers, and 164…

This digest identifies seven essential elements of effective programs for students in alternative programs because they have dropped out, are at risk for dropping out, or have behavior disorders that require special education outside the general education setting. Such alternative programs offer flexible curricula that can address the unique…

This introductory article discusses factors that have led to changes in speech-language pathology practices, including a better and broader understanding of the human communication process, revised federal guidelines and regulations for special education and related services, and a strong desire to encourage scientific pursuit through…

Under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), participating states and jurisdictions must provide services to children who are either experiencing developmental delays, or who have a diagnosed mental or physical condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay. Additionally, states may choose to…

This booklet was designed to inform, guide and support parents of children with special needs during their child's transition from an early intervention program (birth through age 2) into a preschool early educational setting. The first part of the booklet focuses on how the transition process works, including a description of the people who might…

This report summarizes results of initiatives established to achieve goals of the New York State Board of Regents to reform the state's preschool special education program. These goals, consistent with the provisions of the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, view special education as a service to support…

This memorandum from the federal Office of Special Education Programs to chief state school officers presents questions and answers related to the obligations of public agencies in serving children with disabilities who are placed by their parents in private schools under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997. The 45…