In this article, we describe the self-directed change made by a rural elementary school in response to a data-based examination of its service-delivery model that revealed its lowest performing students were spending most of their time with the school's least qualified staff. This mixed-method case study describes (a) why and how the school…

This report presents the results of a thorough study conducted by American Institutes for Research (AIR) to investigate the cost of providing an "adequate" education to California students attending public elementary, middle, and high schools. The study addresses the following question: "What is the cost of providing all California…

This document contains the following nine appendixes of the main report, "What Does It Cost to Educate California's Students? A Professional Judgment Approach. Technical Report. Getting Down to Facts II": (1) Professional Judgement Panel General Instructions; (2) Professional Judgement Panel. Task Instructions; (3) School Resource…

This article describes how a purposeful sample of 62 elementary schools from 17 states implemented a Response to Intervention (RtI) framework for reading. School informants answered surveys and were interviewed about differentiated instruction in Tier 1, screening/benchmarking, where Tier 2 interventions were located, typical group size and the…

The author describes a program to provide special vocational training to handicapped students at Judy Andrews High School in Pensacola, Florida. The model used contains four components: (1) behavioral, (2) academic, (3) remedial, and (4) vocational. (CH)

Discussed Hawaii's efforts to provide for handicapped students through stimulation by the President's Committee on Mental Retardation. (RK)

A systems model offers an orderly way of identifying and evaluating the complex components and relationships that are present in special education systems. When applied to national or local systems of special education, it is possible to derive convenient profiles of their strengths and weaknesses, and thus to generate future improvements. As well…

This document is designed to assist school personnel in the planning, development, and implementation of vocational assessment approaches for special needs students. The intended audience includes administrators, coordinators, counsellors, or teachers who are interested in designing vocational assessment procedures which maximize the use of…

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1997 requires Individualized Education Program teams to consider positive behavior interventions and supports (PBIS) based on functional behavioral assessment for students with disabilities whose behavior impedes their learning or the learning of others. To meet federal mandates, educational…

Although rural children with mild or moderate handicaps have been integrated into the regular classroom, children with severe or low-incidence handicaps continue to be underserved by rural schools. Traditional service delivery models are inadequate in rural areas where many levels of the traditional service continuum and adequate staff and funding…

Two models for the mentoring of beginning special education teachers are presented. The first, the self-contained urban model, is a special education model designed by mentor teachers for beginning and experienced teachers of self-contained classrooms at both the secondary and elementary levels. Mentors work with interns for one full day each week…

Describes a federally-funded University of Utah model project to prepare teachers to work with American Indian students with disabilities in both rural and urban regions. Components include cultural sensitivity and awareness, nonbiased assessment, fostering resilience, curriculum and instructional strategies, transition and collaboration, field…

The literature regarding the provision of in-service education is reviewed to: (1) provide brief definitions of rural school districts and in-service education; (2) discuss the importance of in-service education; (3) explore the difficulties associated with in-service education in rural areas, along with possible remedies; and (4) examines various…

Because it must place special needs students as well as regular students in vocational training programs, the Salem County Board for Vocational Education has initiated a non-categorical vocational training program model. Developed in response to the general practices concerning placement and a need for an individual vocational plan for students…

This report describes a project the assignment of which was (1) to clarify the needs for baccalaureate programs through which industrial education teachers could be prepared to teach handicapped and disadvantaged children and (2) to develop a model from which appropriate curricula could be developed. In chapter 1 the project background is…