Fostering Opportunities is an innovative student engagement program for middle school and high school students who have experienced foster care. The goal of the program is to help youth who have experienced foster care be successful in school and ultimately earn a high school credential. Fostering Opportunities was developed because of the clear…

This evidence-based practice overview on Response Interruption/Redirection (RIR) includes the following components: (1) Overview: A quick summary of salient features of the practice, including what it is, who it can be used with, what skills it has been used with, and settings for instruction; (2) Evidence-base: The "RIR Evidence-base"…

This evidence-based practice overview on Video Modeling (VM) includes the following components: (1) Overview: A quick summary of salient features of the practice, including what it is, who it can be used with, what skills it has been used with, and settings for instruction; (2) Evidence-base: The "VM Evidence-base" details the NPDC…

A parent of a gifted student reviews the development of a gifted and talented program in his school district and makes suggestions for full-time program coordinators, increased role of the guidance counselor, and greater emphasis on career education at the high school level. (CL)

Saturday enrichment programs are viable options for gifted children who are not served in the public schools. Because such programs are not dependent on schools or state departments for funding, or for initiation, Saturday programs can be successfully operated by parent and other advocacy groups. Guidelines for considering such programs focus on…

Steps for developing an effective school-business relationship include: meeting with the school principal; determining what kind of support is wanted; appointing a volunteer coordinator; understanding business operations; and setting up an evaluation process. Ideas for school-business partnerships include sponsoring an awards program, work…

The paper describes the major needs of gifted rural students and suggests ways parents can use nonschool as well as school resources to help meet those needs. Students need guidance to deal with their differentness, to evaluate their strengths and weaknesses, and to make plans for the future. Parents are advised to gather information and create a…

Seventeen position papers address essential elements in quality programing for visually handicapped learners. The papers represent the philosophy of the Council for Exceptional Children's Division for the Visually Handicapped. Following two foundation position papers, "Services for the Blind and Visually Impaired" (K. Huebner) and "Visually…

The authors provide information to help parents of handicapped children plan, organize, and manage advisory councils for special education programs. Section I summarizes the roles and responsibilities of various advisory councils for special education, including local, regional, and state councils. Section II suggests some ways to organize a…

The importance of a career education curriculum beginning in elementary school for moderately mentally disabled students is stressed, and the roles of parents, special educators, and employers in developing and planning such an approach are considered. (CL)

A parent center supported by the Albuquerque Public School System and the University of New Mexico promotes cooperation between parents and educators to serve exceptional children. The center was based on assumptions about money, time, personnel, parent heterogeneity, and needs/strengths as delineated in the "Mirror Model of Parent Involvement."…

Problems of implementing a mainstreaming program for exceptional children include lack of staff preparation and inadequate guidelines concerning resource room operation. Four approaches to the problem are recommended: a total integrated effort of all staff, a well-developed plan for teacher education, good public relations, and early involvement…

Discusses strategies for parents in curtailing the use of alcohol and drugs in their children's schools. Three key areas are explored: (1) learning the facts about alcohol and other drug use among young people; (2) practicing prevention at home; (3) working with the school to develop good prevention programs. (GLR)

Increasing numbers of home-schooled students who need regular physical activity indicate the need for home-school physical education (PE) programs on college campuses. This paper describes the development of one such program, highlighting: home schooling and clinical settings; procedures for establishing clinical programs; organizing clinical…

Intended for state education agency personnel and others concerned with implementation of P.L. 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act), the booklet presents summaries and findings of three research projects on individualized education programs (IEPs) and the planning team (PT) process. Reported on are the following three studies: a…