This investigation explored the interactions between paraeducators and the culturally and linguistically diverse families of their students with disabilities. Paraeducators (n = 117) attending a statewide professional development event responded to a questionnaire designed to explore their interactions with diverse parents and families. Results…

Since the reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 2004, standards-based individualized education plans (IEPs) have been an expectation for serving students with disabilities in the K-12 public school setting. Nearly a decade after the mandates calling for standards-based IEPs, special educators still struggle…

The article examines issues related to the professional development of teachers. The presented material is structured according to four main themes: teacher self-assessment of their professional competence; their attitude toward traditional forms of training; their participation in events organized by the educational community and associations;…

With more than half of children with disabilities being educated in the general education classroom, and with federal education law requiring improved learning outcomes for these students, preparing general education teachers to work effectively with all students is critical. This report on teacher certification requirements in the nine Northeast…

In this paper, we review various challenges in regard to educating children with and without disabilities from culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) backgrounds. The challenges discussed include (1) biased assessment that results in mis- or overrepresenting CLD students in special education, (2) difficulty distinguishing between disability…

A stimulated recall procedure was used to examine the instructional decision making of 19 expert special educators. Qualitative analysis indicated that a detailed and extensive knowledge base about students enabled these teachers to assess their students' academic and emotional states of mind and to address effectively the students' needs within…

Presents an argument for the collaboration of science educators and special educators based on a new collaborative model that recognizes the critical importance of the science context in determining appropriate pedagogy for students with disabilities. Contains 11 references. (JRH)

Presents a scale of key teaching attributes that can be used to examine general classroom teachers' perceptions of knowledge and skills for providing effective instruction to students with disabilities, to assist in the development and implementation of more effective inclusionary practices, and to provide administrators with the indicators that…

A survey of 212 Wisconsin special educators found the majority were expected to supervise paraeducators but had no preservice education or inservice from their school system. Ninety percent felt teacher-educator institutions should educate preservice educators and indicated topics that should be covered. Respondents' challenges to working with…

Discusses how teachers can use magazines written for culturally and linguistically diverse groups to increase their own knowledge base and to use as a resource for multicultural-education lesson planning in order to provide students with an opportunity to learn about high achieving individuals who come from backgrounds similar to their own.…

West Virginia University's five-year preservice teacher education program prepares general education teachers for students with special needs. Using a strand approach, special education learning outcomes and competencies have been incorporated into core education courses. A survey of 72 program participants and 11 faculty members indicates…

This article highlights major points of each of the articles in this special issue on the research to practice gap in special education. It then considers some broader implications, especially the need to foster and establish collegial networks to counter the isolation in which many teachers currently work. (Contains references.) (DB)

This article describes the new National Board for Professional Teaching Standards (NBPTS) certificate for teachers of students with disabilities. The certification process, the required Exceptional Needs portfolio, the assessment center, and the application fee are discussed, along with answers to frequently asked questions about the NBPTS.…

A survey of 403 general and special education teachers found most had received no training in multicultural education even though most reported that cultural knowledge would help them understand the influence of their students' verbal and nonverbal learning/behavioral styles. Knowledge about the language of multicultural students and child…

A survey of 258 directors/chairpersons of special education teacher preparation programs, and comparison with 1980 survey data, found that preservice teachers were not receiving adequate preparation in the area of sex education. The inclusion of sex education in the teacher training curriculum is urged. (DB)