The core practice of professional scientists is inquiry, often referred to as research. If educators are to prepare students for a role in the professional scientific and technological community, exposing them to inquiry-based learning is essential. Despite this, inquiry-based teaching and learning (IBTL) remains relatively rare, possibly due to…

Choosing whether to test via computer is the most difficult and consequential decision the designers of a testing program can make. The decision is difficult because of the wide range of choices available. Designers can choose where and how often the test is made available, how the test items look and function, how those items are combined into…

Recent emphasis on employment for students labeled mentally retarded has presented new challenges for educators in the design and implementation of high school programs. Promising practices for facilitating the achievement of full employment for these students are suggested, and trends that will influence the manner in which services are provided…

This article describes a four-step process designed to help educators in inclusive schools more effectively educate those students with emotional/behavioral disorders for whom education in general education classrooms has been deemed appropriate. School-wide structures and best practices are highlighted and a call for evaluating inclusive models…

Twelve "best practices" guidelines are offered to provide truly differentiated instruction for gifted students. Guidelines are based on theory, research, and experience and, taken together, result in appropriate differentiated service options. (DB)

This handbook was developed as a resource on learning disabilities (LD) for North Carolina educators. The first section covers guidelines for identifying, diagnosing, and developing services for LD students. The handbook then provides an overview of effective practices for teaching students with learning disabilities and some ideas for structuring…

Responsible inclusion of students with learning disabilities in regular education involves putting the student first, allowing teachers to self-select their involvement in inclusion, providing adequate resources, developing school-based inclusive models, maintaining a continuum of services, offering professional development, developing an…

This article focuses on integration of children with and without disabilities during the early childhood years, with specific attention devoted to the notion of how predictors of high-quality programs become integrated into service delivery systems. Indicators of program quality from general education, early childhood education, and early…

During the academic year 1983-84, Drexel University instituted a new policy requiring all incoming students to have access to a microcomputer. The computer chosen to fulfill this requirement was the Macintosh from Apple Computer, Inc. This paper provides a brief description of the process undertaken to select the appropriate computer (i.e.,…

This article identifies current problems that act as barriers to improved and expanded services and opportunities for blind and visually impaired people and their families, such as detachment of medical profession from service delivery, automatic student promotions, expectation of specialized programs in every district, parental choice of schools,…

Results of a survey of 145 special education administrators in 27 states are presented under 4 headings: student identification practices; service delivery; student exit procedures; and program evaluation practices. Findings indicate student identification procedures are fairly well developed, whereas student exit and evaluation practices are less…

This article emphasizes the need to develop special education policy and practice appropriate for rural students. The article examines recommended practices for improving delivery of services to rural schools, services readily available to rural families and communities, and the role of the rural special educator. (Author/PB)

This brief paper summarizes research findings concerning the identification and implementation of effective practices in early childhood intervention for children with disabilities. First, research documenting the effectiveness of early childhood intervention is noted and the importance of developing individualized programs within integrated early…

This review analyzes the impact of the traditional school reform model on students who are "at-risk" and disabled. Several goals of current reform initiatives are felt to be exclusionary, such as specifying national or state goals for student achievement, establishing rigid graduation requirements, and relieving schools from "burdensome…

Parents, educators, and support personnel (n=585) were surveyed regarding prevalence of professional practices believed to interfere with integrated delivery of services to disabled students. Findings indicate high prevalence of interfering practices such as having sections of individualized education programs for each discipline, and allowing…