This issue brief addresses policy and administrative questions in preschool special education. Background information is provided on the history of early intervention and predictions for the future are made. Research is presented on early childhood special education effectiveness (longitudinal and shorter-term studies and third-party evaluations)…

As a supplement to the standard in-school high school curriculum, the Executive High School Internship Program provides experiential learning opportunities for gifted high school students. The program focuses on management-level field placements through which participants learn to make decisions, interact with the world-of-work, and assume…

This publication on reviewing existing vocational education programs is the third in the Self-Help series of five booklets designed for Alaska administrators and teachers to improve vocational services provided to handicapped pupils. It begins with a checklist of implications for administrators and teachers. Reasons for program review and some…

This paper presents the philosophy, goals and curriculum of the San Jose University Demonstration Preschool Project and presents preliminary data on the integration of mild to moderately handicapped preschool children into the program. The program, which enrolls 6 handicapped children and 14 non-handicapped children, is based on the developmental…

Presented are case histories of two Down's Syndrome (Mosaic form) 6- and 10-year-old girls who attended regular Montessori classes. General characteristics of Down's Syndrome and other retarded children are reviewed and compared with the two girls' growth and development (according to Piaget's proposed stages). The Montessori emphasis on sensorial…

Thirty-eight teachers and 96 low achieving students from 10 elementary schools were involved in a study designed to evaluate the effects of an inservice training course, "Tutoring in Mathematics", on teachers in mainstreaming settings. Course effects were defined in terms of specific tutoring skills and teacher attitudes about working with…

Investigated were the attitudes of 28 community recreation volunteers (11-66 years old) toward five selected trainable mentally retarded adolescent and adult participants. The five participants were determined to be ready for the mainstreamed program on the basis of scores on the Fairview Social Skills Scale. Results of pre and posttests on the…

A paraprofessional was trained to provide an individualized reading, math, and language arts program to a 9-year-old educable mentally retarded boy in a regular classroom. A 5-month period of reading sessions with the classroom teacher emphasizing oral reading and comprehension contingent on word acquisition and imitation training for word…

An analysis of variables effecting the success of mainstreaming programs in 27 school districts in Vermont--five of which were unsuccessful in that consulting teacher services were not maintained for more than two years, and 22 of which were successful in that consulting teacher services were maintained for more than two years--was undertaken.…

The effect of two special education resource models (teacher consultant model and resource room model) on student achievement and on teacher and student behavior was contrasted, using 480 learning disabled and educable mentally handicapped children (mean age of eight years and four months). (BD)

Post-training assessment of family day care providers (N=13), who participated in Family Day Care Project training sessions and biweekly on-site consultations and then mainstreamed young handicapped children (N=27) into their homes, demonstrated an overall significant positive change in knowledge and attitudes toward disabilities and improved day…

Argues that regular class placement is inappropriate for the special student because (l) regular classes are too competitive; (2) rejection by other students may occur; and (3) the regular class teacher lacks the necessary special training and support. Suggests upgrading special classes and seeking other methods of integrating students. (SJL)

A follow-up study was conducted of 15 visually handicapped preschoolers involved in a program of initial and on-going diagnosis, individualized prescriptive education, intensive parent involvement, and coordinated entry into regular classes. (SBH)

A survey was conducted across five educational authorities in Britain concerning the new Code of Practice's influence on special education. It found marked variations in rates of statementing (identification of special needs), proportion of statemented pupils in mainstream schools, and funding arrangements for special needs. Findings have…