As charter schools continue to attract lots of political and policy attention, research has emerged suggesting that these schools enroll fewer students with disabilities than public schools. Given that the success of the movement is based on charters being more effective than public schools as determined by test scores, it is not entirely…

As the United States stands on the brink of a new era in American history with new leaders, fresh ideas, and a strong feeling of optimism for the future, everyone has an important opportunity to get the nation's education policy right. Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development (ASCD) recommends that as policymakers reshape the…

This article describes Colorado's approach to implementation of least restrictive environment (LRE) policy, specifically focused on the recent reform initiative of inclusive education. It describes how state leadership and collaboration have resulted in increased integrated placements. Emerging policy initiatives and questions about the merger of…

The trend in special education toward integrating students with disabilities into general education schools and classrooms and the trend in general education toward systematic reorganization of school governance structures, policy, and resource utilization present an opportunity for amalgamation of these viewpoints through broad-based, school…

This report outlines issues related to special education and changes in its role brought about by the restructuring of schools. Discussions of proposed policy options accompany the descriptions of each issue. The issues are in addition to those described in an earlier University of Maryland issues and policy options paper. The first issue is…

The Kentucky Family Resource Centers developed under the Kentucky Educational Reform Act are described as examples of the school-linked service movement. The lessons learned in the development of the centers and policy issues that need to be addressed by both education and social services to assure continued development of this movement are…

This research brief examines trends at the federal and state levels in educational reform and implications for reform for students with disabilities. After briefly reviewing the historical background of standards-based school reform, the brief stresses the importance of a three-pronged reform strategy, involving: (1) a unifying vision and goals,…

This document examines the restructuring of local schools and how restructuring can involve students with disabilities and the special education programs that serve them. The document is designed to create awareness of the issues related to restructuring and programs for students with disabilities and puts forth options for reconsidering and…

Federal, state, and local policy issues that affect models of school-linked integrated services and systems are examined. Barriers to school-linked service integration, state policy trends, the realities of finance, establishing state systems of support for the changing approach, examples of state approaches, and the impact of devolution are…

This paper discusses distinguishing features of site-based management, theories supporting site-based management, examples of current practices, and special education implications. Part I presents issues concerning the implementation of site-based management as a restructuring process, including obstacles in implementing site-based management,…

This collection of papers offers advice on restructuring education to create heterogeneous schools, with the goal of creating happy, comfortable, and successful learning environments for all the children and adults who learn and teach in them. Section I, titled "A Rationale for Restructuring and the Change Process," contains the following papers:…

This guide is designed to facilitate the debating of local policy options in school restructuring which have implications for the education of students with disabilities and other learners with special needs. The guide summarizes special education issues and policy options described more fully in preceding booklets and then asks the reader to…

This report describes the Comprehensive Local School approach to school restructuring, which envisions the school as the coordinating vehicle for all children's services, including health and social services, and which reconfigures and coordinates all categorical programs at the school site under a site-based management system characterized by a…

This policy brief addresses the issue of issue of whether or not current federal funding policy under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) should be changed from an identification system to an overall population-based system. The current federal funding policy is described, in the context of the legislative history of IDEA.…

This report provides background information and questions for discussion of special education policies by Ohio state legislators. Background information notes that approximately 10 percent of children, both nationally and in Ohio, receive special education services at an estimated cost in Ohio of $1.2 billion. Issues of compliance with federal law…