The alignment of the teacher quality provisions of the No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the transparency of low achievement of students who have disabilities under the testing mandates of NCLB have converged to create substantial renewed interest and activity in collaborative programs…

Purpose. The purpose of this study was to describe to what extent seven collaborative behaviors were demonstrated by general education teachers assigned students with disabilities, special education Resource Specialists, and the principals in selected California elementary schools that met their 2006-2007 and 2007-2008 English language arts annual…

This article offers a framework for planning teams to use to implement inclusive education. Four planning dimensions (action planning, management, evaluation, and reflection) are discussed, including specific considerations for classroom teams. An example of one school's efforts toward developing an effective inclusion program is provided. (DB)

This paper describes Education Review Teams as an evolution of practice stemming from evidence of the effectiveness of teacher assistance teams and teacher support teams. Evidence showing the value of adding a monitoring function, subject area consultation, and the authority to allocate resources to these teams is offered. (DB)

Provides 15 key questions that educators should consider in developing collaborative and inclusive schools. The questions are organized into three categories: general and philosophical questions pertaining to inclusion, questions about the basic mechanics of developing inclusion programs, and questions about the practical implementation of…

Reflects on the development of transition planning and services for students with disabilities. Discusses legislative changes mandating transition services and describes current conditions and outcomes for youth in transition. Identifies transformative collaboration and other themes that have implications for improvement of transition services.…

This article describes steps taken by the faculty in the Department of Special Education at the University of Wisconsin at Eau Claire to develop, implement, and make programmatic decisions based on the results of performance-based assessments. It illustrates these steps with the example of the educational goal of having students understand the…

The importance of multilevel planning in the increasing use of coteaching models as one means of providing special education services in general education classrooms is addressed. Guidelines for planning for effective coteaching are offered at the district level, the building level, and the classroom level. (DB)

Steps for effective coteaching by special education and regular education teachers are identified. Examples of coteaching in elementary and junior high schools are given. The need for communication between teachers is emphasized as the key ingredient to successful coteaching. (CR)

A survey of 51 university and agency-based interprofessional education training programs found that family member involvement in the planning, implementation, and evaluation of interprofessional collaboration and curricular attention to family-professional collaboration were present in a small number of programs. Recommendations for increasing…

Provides an overview of cooperative teaching, in which a general educator and a special services provider teach together simultaneously in a general education classroom composed of academically heterogeneous students. It identifies problems sometimes experienced and offers practical suggestions for enhancing this method's effectiveness. (Author/DB)

This paper examines the ways in which individuals have been prepared for work in special education by focusing on the Boston, Massachusetts, public schools from 1870 through the 1920's. During this period, selected teachers and teacher candidates were recruited and prepared for specific assignments as instructors of children with disabilities.…

Part of a series designed to provide practical resources for transition personnel on a variety of topics critical to the process of preparing individuals with disabilities for adulthood, this guide focuses on using transition teams to improve transition services. Chapter 1, "The Roles of Community Transition Teams," discusses the benefits of…

This report describes a study which identified concerns and questions of general and special educators about inclusion and effective strategies for operating a successful inclusion model. Seven pairs of special and general educators in elementary and middle schools comprised the primary study group. Study group pairs interviewed their faculties…

The Division for Early Childhood (DEC) of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) has developed recommended practices for the ECSE field in the area of personnel preparation. This book provides guidance to higher education faculty and professional development specialists on how these recommended practices can be implemented in preservice and…