Advancing teacher candidates' overall competence through use of valid teacher observation systems should be an essential element of teacher preparation. Yet, the field of special education has not provided observation protocols designed specifically for preservice teachers that are founded in theoretical perspectives and research on effective…

Learning fractions is difficult for children in general and especially difficult for children with mathematics difficulties (MD). Recent research on developmental and individual differences in fraction knowledge of children with MD and typically achieving (TA) children has demonstrated that U.S. children with MD start middle school behind their TA…

A pre-post experimental design with 6-week delayed posttest was implemented to investigate the effects of reading comprehension strategy (RCS) instruction with and without attribution retraining (AR) on reading outcomes for seventh, eighth, and ninth graders with learning and other mild disabilities. Students were randomly assigned to one of three…

The study used a battery of nine neuropsychological tests/subtests to derive patterns of cognitive style with 56 mildly handicapped and 36 non-handicapped children (ages 6-13). Three subtypes of cognitive style (dysphonetic, dyseidetic, and mixed) were identified in both groups, suggesting that cognitive style operated independently of cognitive…

The article examines the research used to support the Regular Education Initiative, especially the literature on the efficacy of special education and studies examining the Adaptive Learning Environments Model, a mainstreaming program. The support provided by these lines of research, however, is seen to be minimal. (Author/DB)

The article reviews potential barriers to implementing the Regular Education Initiative (REI) in secondary schools and then discusses a set of factors central to developing a workable partnership, one that is compatible with the goals of the REI but that also responds to the unique parameters of secondary schools. (Author/DB)

Self-concept scores were collected on 169 elementary students who divided their school day between special classes and the educational mainstream. Results suggest that mildly handicapped children from high socioeconomic status levels who remain inadequate academically in comparison to their special-class peers have self-concepts significantly…

The author suggests that, if the purpose of classification is to provide educational services, the category of learning disabilities be used to describe pupils with mild handicaps. She cites the folly of research on sytem-selected students because system-selection decisions are biased by political, practical, and financial influences. (CL)

The article describes the diagnostic prescriptive teacher program, an organizational model designed to provide help within the regular classroom for children with mild learning problems. The key to the program is the diagnostic prescriptive teacher, a school-based specialist who combines diagnostic and consultative work in assisting the regular…

The proposed merger of special and regular education is analyzed relative to conditions of mild handicap and the capability of the regular education system to serve all pupils effectively. Conditions necessary for restructuring include support for research and evaluation, the study of programs as well as individuals, and multiple program models.…

The review examines evaluations of the efficacy of special education programs for mildly disabled children. The author suggests that serious methodological flaws make our present knowledge in this area very weak and proposes a methodology to address and overcome many of the limitations of previous research. (Author)

Followup of psychoeducational recommendations made for 67 learning problem students (k-12) showed that 68 percent of the parental recommendations and 56 percent of the teacher recommendations were implemented. Findings included that many school personnel had not read the recommendations and there was no effective ongoing advocate for the student.…

The study evaluated the role of instructional design in the field test and revision process for a computer-assisted instructional program with 26 secondary resource room students. Scores significantly favored students receiving the revised program. (Author/DB)

Basic assumptions of the Regular Education Initiative (which encourages closer coordination of regular and special education) were examined. The authors assert that students are not overidentified for special education, that student failure is not due only to teacher shortcomings, and that variability in student performance will increase not…

The paper presents the concept of policy analysis, as distinct from policy advocacy, in light of recent proposals to restructure present special and regular education practice with mildly handicapped students. A comprehensive policy analysis to clarify the objectives of the Regular Education Initiative is recommended to assess its impact.…