The article describes the whole school approach to special education provision in British primary schools. Schools are encouraged to develop a policy document covering such aspects as general aims, staff roles, assessment and record keeping, curriculum, working with parents, staff development, and policy review. (DB)

This study with 39 secondary students with severe disabilities integrated into regular programs in either home schools or cluster programs found that the proportion of students residing outside the normal school boundaries and the percent of students classified as Severely Multiply Handicapped were both negatively associated with both in-school…

Qualitative research methods were used to examine practices at an elementary school providing inclusive schooling for students with and without disabilities. Findings indicated that systems change occurred slowly, intentionally, and with a collaborative process of decision making which stressed development of policies, conditions, and supports…

The paper describes Project STIP (Supported Transition to Integrated Preschools), a demonstration project in San Francisco, California, which is developing and evaluating a model for integrating preschool children with special needs into regular education preschool programs. Project STIP also developed and evaluated a district-wide model for…

This paper highlights the historical, social, and legal aspects of Spain's movement to integrate special education students. Differences in constitutional and legislative foundations as well as in practical mainstreaming efforts and professional roles between the U.S. and Spain are noted. Educators are warned to not uncritically replicate other…

This study attempted to identify variables supportive of inclusive programming for children with disabilities from the teacher's perspective. Structured interviews with 10 teachers at two pilot elementary schools in Indiana addressed issues concerning type and frequency of staff development, site visits to inclusive schools, previous experience…

This article reports the experiences of one school district as it moved from serving students with severe disabilities in segregated programs to a full inclusion model. Year one focused on getting started, planning, and beginning integration efforts and year two on implementation of a structured peer integration program. Applicability of the full…

This paper describes the development and establishment of an inclusive education program on a junior high school campus. Although this is the documentation of secondary programming, with an emphasis on severe disabilities, these "phases" can be generalized to other program areas and levels of education. During phase I, a functional,…

This booklet contains an outline of, and recommendations based on, a study of 128 New Zealand children in special groups mainstreamed into kindergartens and play groups. Research goals were to explore how mainstreaming had been implemented, whether special group children were profiting from the environment's educational opportunities, and whether…

This manual puts forth strategies for integrating students with severe disabilities, which have been successfully implemented by administrators and teachers in public schools. A sequential set of suggestions and practical examples to help administrators plan integration policy is also featured. The first chapter describes a conflict between a…

This paper examines policy options in implementing least restrictive environment (LRE) requirements of federal legislation (Public Laws 99-457 and 94-142), and offers recommendations regarding the array of placement options that should be available in relation to preschool children with handicaps. First, the legal interpretation of LRE is analyzed…

These guidelines were developed as part of Maine's statewide project for inclusive schools, Project LEARNS (Local Education for All in Regular Neighborhood Schools). The model proposes that students with severe disabilities be provided with a range of services and supports within regular classes rather than with a continuum of placements. The…

General and specific strategies useful in facilitating an integrated educational environment for children with severe disabilities are presented. Strategies include, among others, identifying and facilitating natural supports, using a participation approach, demonstrating success locally, recruiting collaborators, communicating with all members of…

This review of effective practices in state-wide systems change was conducted as part of the PEERS (Providing Education for Everyone in Regular Schools) Project, a 5-year collaborative systems change project in California to facilitate the integration of students with severe disabilities previously at special centers into services at regular…

This investigation examined longitudinal cost data of one school district's movement toward more inclusive practices. Findings included district costs were significantly less than comparable costs for out-of-district services; numbers of students with severe disabilities significantly increased over a five-year period; and contractual (related…