Educators today are challenged with the task of designing curricula and standards for students of varying abilities. While technology and innovation steadily improve classroom learning, teachers and administrators continue to struggle in developing the best methodologies and practices for students with disabilities. "Models for Effective…

To identify factors which facilitate and limit the successful implementation of pre-referral intervention systems in public schools, a survey was conducted of Maine Directors of Special Education who represented school systems using pre-referral systems. Forty-eight of 67 special education directors responded to the survey; 20 additional responses…

The role of the special educator in collaborative consultation with regular educators is discussed in terms of problems in the practice of consultation, consultation as a mutual and reciprocal schoolwide activity, consultation as a facilitative process, consultation as a routine professional role, and the language of consultation. (DB)

This article reviews the literature on consultation, collegiality, and other forms of collaboration in schools, as a means of assessing the knowledge base and understanding its relationship to special education. Research on implementation of collaborative practices in special education is called for. (JDD)

This article describes transdisciplinary consultation, a classroom-based team model in which team members focus on implementing a transdisciplinary model of service delivery. An evaluation of the model by nine preschool professionals indicated the teams perceived the model to have a positive impact on their personal and team development. (Contains…

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)

In North Carolina, physical therapy services for handicapped students are integrated into school settings via a coordinated statewide effort. The model, headed by a physical therapy consultant, provides flexibility, supports an expanded role of therapists, emphasizes the team approach, and considers the physical therapist as a health professional.…

As more students with disabilities move into mainstreamed classroom settings, the role of special educators has shifted from direct instruction to more indirect support of classroom teachers. This article discusses definitions of consultation, the consultation process, consultation models, and situational factors in consultation. (JDD)

This guidebook was developed for early childhood administrators and consultants who provide services to support the integration of children with disabilities into preschool classrooms. It provides practical information on finding and hiring the best consultants, unraveling the special education and third-party payor resources that support…

This paper reports findings of a study examining the nature of collaboration between special educators and general educators in two elementary schools. In addition, personal perspectives are presented on the linkages between conducting research and gaining experiences as a special educator at one of the elementary schools the year following…

This guide to the use of collaborative teams to facilitate the inclusion of all students, including those with disabilities, covers the following topics: (1) uses of collaborative teams (e.g., team teaching, peer coaching/mentoring, teacher assistance teams, pre-assessment teams, and student support teams); (2) benefits and motivating factors for…

This article discusses prereferral consultation and intervention assistance in educating children with and without disabilities. The article focuses on the history, rationale, and philosophical perspectives of prereferral intervention and legal and public policy considerations. The article reviews studies evaluating Teacher Assistance Teams,…

This article highlights the SUN team, a Colorado collaborative inclusion team which resulted in enhanced classroom and school practices and programming for students with significant educational needs. It describes the collaborative program development and design, outcomes during and after the intervention, and benefits at the district-level…

The report describes the first 3 years of the Homecoming Project, which was designed to return disabled students in regional special education programs to regular classes in 26 local Vermont schools. Fifty-eight such students (of whom 45% were moderately or severely handicapped) were transitioned into regular classes and 19 other students at risk…

This paper urges increased educator and community agency collaboration in preventing failure among students with special needs, including students with disabilities. A chart compares networking, coordination, cooperation, and collaboration and distinguishes among them in terms of types of interaction, examples, impact on students, and impact on…