The Pennsylvania State Department of Education recently changed to a noncategorical certificate for special education teachers based on three factors: overlap in categorical programs, generalization of materials and methods across all categories, and similarity in daily activities of special education teachers regardless of categorical assignment.…

The authors propose a model for preparing special education teachers which accepts those differences among students that require categorical decisions for instructional pruposes but not those categories existing as mere historical artifacts. Three noncategorical teacher training programs are described, and six clusters of teacher competencies are…

The first of six articles on the topic of categorical versus noncategorical special education reviews research on the harmful effects of labeling and categorizing children and introduced the next five papers. (CL)

The author cites potential damages resulting from P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, and its reliance on categories of handicapping conditions. He further notes the possibility of a backlash movement in the country's current conservatism. (CL)

Objections to the traditional categorical model of special education are followed by a summary of administrative factors supporting the tradition. Reasons underlying the persistence of the categorical approach are seen to include misconceptions about the nature of the disability categories. Learning disabilities are cited as an invalid and…

This paper presents a model for the preparation of Quebec teachers of special needs children across disability categories. The proposed model emphasizes collaborative consultation among regular and special educators, collaboration with parents, individualized intervention plans, and teaching of learning strategies. The paper recommends that a…

The article summarizes concurrent policy and practice concerning categorical and noncategorical diagnostic procedures for young handicapped children. The strengths and weaknesses of four noncategorical policy options are discussed. Potential misuses of noncategorical policies are reviewed, and recommendations for policy research are offered.…

Competencies of two groups of first year special education teachers were compared: 109 graduates whose training was primarily categorical and 99 graduates whose training was primarily noncategorical or comprehensive. Results of surveys on competencies completed by Ss and 27 Directors of Special Education in Pennsylvania intermediate units revealed…

Drawing upon New Hampshire data, this article analyzes transition from early intervention to preschool programs, labels assigned to preschool children, label changes as children get older, and consequences of categorical labeling. Almost one-third of children in early intervention were not eligible for preschool services because of requirements…

A noncategorical preschool program for handicapped children employs two language-intervention methods: a precision method in which groupings are made by ability level and data-taking procedures are emphasized; and an experiential method which involves pretesting and posttesting but provides groupings across all ability levels. (CL)

The paper compares current practices of identifying students with special educational needs in Australia and Scotland. Noted are problems generated by the abandonment of a category-based approach to such children. Australian and Scottish practice are also compared to United States' experience in light of Public Law 94-142. (Author/DB)

Students and recent graduates of a generic undergraduate special education program based on the Direct Instruction model as a basis for methods instruction were surveyed about their attitudes toward it. Results supported previous findings with inservice teachers that experience with Direct Instruction increases positive attitudes toward it.…

The article explores implications of the noncategorization of exceptional students. One area of concern is that those children who fail in school will be lumped together with handicapped children, which, the author asserts, does an obvious disservice to both. (PHR)

Children screened and served by an early childhood special education department were followed longitudinally through age eight. Results were used to evaluate effectiveness of the screening instrument and criteria which determined service eligibility. The lack of continuity between original and later disability category supported noncategorical…

This discussion of special needs students in the context of British education supports and extends John Fish's "dimensions" concept, a descriptive system which is seen as neither crudely categorical nor completely individualized. The model involves five dimensions of special needs, each banded into six levels of need intensity. (DB)