This document presents witnesses' testimonies and prepared statements from the Congressional hearing called to examine children's mental health issues, including the prevalence of mental illness among children, barriers to effective treatment, and responses that are effective in helping children and families. Witnesses providing testimony include:…

P.L. 94-142 presents unique problems to schools with special education programs. This article offers suggestions for implementing the act's objectives of individualized instruction, least restrictive environment, and equal protection for handicapped children. (Author/LD)

The United States Supreme Court decision in "Honig v. Doe" precludes school officials from unilaterally excluding special needs children who become disruptive. School officials may use disciplinary procedures applicable to all students or seek judicial relief to obtain alternative placements for handicapped children. (MLF)

Describes a North Carolina lawsuit that should result in a multitude of new treatment programs for disturbed, aggressive youth. Discusses the state's obligation under the settlement and its progress in establishing needed programs. (Author/MLF)

Explores the continuing difficulties facing federal courts when pressed with coverage decisions under the 1990 Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). In a San Diego decision upholding the "appropriateness" of an emotionally disturbed student's placement in a private residential treatment center, the district court departed…

In February 1990, the U.S. Supreme Court mandated in Sullivan versus Zebley that, in determining eligibility for Supplemental Security Income (SSI), the Social Security Administration expand its medical standards for assessing mental impairments in children and consider individualized functional assessments of how each child's impairment limits…

This paper presents nationally representative information about the extent of disproportionate gender representation in special education for the disability conditions of learning disabilities, mental retardation, and emotional disturbance. Recommendations are made for research to elucidate the basis for differences, improved data collection and…

Issues surrounding disciplinary exclusion of seriously emotionally disturbed children from public schools are addressed, along with applicable federal legislation, court cases, and Office of Civil Rights (OCR) opinions. Exclusion is defined as the removal from, or the prohibition of, participating in the public school program in part or entirety,…

The paper examines issues involved in disciplinary exclusion of seriously emotionally disturbed students. Distinctions are made between suspension and expulsion, and applicable federal legislation (including P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973) is reviewed in terms of…

This report recommends reauthorization of the Education of the Handicapped Act (EHA) via Senate bill 1824, the Education of Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1989. The bill's primary focus is reauthorization of the discretionary programs of parts C through G of the EHA and creation of a new discretionary program addressing the special education…

This article explains the clause in the Individuals with Disabilities Act, 1990 (Public law 94-142) excluding from special education services students whose primary problem is an emotional disturbance. The history of the regulation is provided. (SM)

This document presents the state of Maine's rules of general applicability and specific rights of children who are receiving services from the Maine Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation. The first section presents general rules concerning: statement of intent, definitions, basic rights, least restrictive appropriate treatment,…

The Connecticut State Department of Children and Youth Services is a multi-service agency which assists children and youth through directly operated and funded services. The agency's services include child protection; foster care; adoptions; juvenile corrections and rehabilitation; and prevention and treatment of delinquency, child maltreatment,…

A Senate committee hearing received testimony about high dropout rates and other problems at seven off-reservation boarding schools operated by the Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) or by tribal groups under BIA contract. The schools are Pierre Indian Learning Center (South Dakota), Sequoyah Indian High School (Oklahoma), Wahpeton Indian School…

Standards and guidelines are provided for school districts in Hawaii for identification of emotionally handicapped (EH) students, previously designated "seriously emotionally disturbed," and for developing educational programs to serve this population. Differentiation is made between the EH child, who requires special services for severe…