An ecological study was conducted to investigate social, economic, and political factors that influence referral rates following early childhood screening. Telephone interviews were conducted with school personnel from 17 school districts directly involved in the screening and referral process. Subjects (6 early childhood teachers, 3 preschool…

Systematic observation of four elementary students at time of referral and one and two months after special education placement revealed considerable variability among students in amount of academic time allocated and engaged in. Changes in instruction and student responding as a function of special education intervention were inconsistent across…

The impact of four early childhood education screening programs intended to identify handicapped children was evaluated using ecological case study methods. Results suggested that few screening and referral practices influenced screening outcomes in a consistent manner. (Author/DB)

Four elementary students referred for special education evaluation were observed systematically for 2 entire days each at three different times within the referral-to-placement process. Data were recorded on 53 variables within six categories in 10 second intervals to examine changes in the nature of instruction and academic responding time as a…

Preschool screening referral rates for developmental problems were examined for 219 Minnesota school districts across 2 school years. The state as a whole was consistent from year 1 to year 2 in terms of the percentage of children referred for screening. However, there was wide variation among individual districts. Three groups of districts were…

The extent to which computer simulated classification decisions within special education were differentially affected by information presented at the time of the referral was investigated. Decisions about 16 different cases were evaluated and found to be a function of referral information rather than child performance data. The outcomes are…

Educational decision makers (N=224) participated in a computer simulated decison making experience designed to ascertain the extent to which referral information biased classification decisions. Ss ignored standardized test information indicative of average performance and retained the stereotype created by the referral information. (Author)

Decision makers and psychologists (N=224) who had previously participated in at least two placement team meetings individually completed a computer simulated decision making program on a child referred for a suspected handicapping condition. Ss were randomly assigned to 16 different conditions varying on the basis of the referred child's sex,…

This study, involving 87 special-education directors, examined the number of referred students assessed for special-education services over the last 10 years and the number of assessed students declared eligible and served. Results indicated 90 to 92% of referrals were tested and 70 to 74% of tested students were declared eligible. (Author/CR)

Five years of research findings on assessment and decision making for learning disabled (LD) students are summarized through 14 generalizations. the generalizations deal with five issues: which students to refer for psychoeducational evaluation; which students to declare eligible for LD services; how to plan specific instructional interventions…

The psychoeducational processes school diagnosticians use in decisions about students were studied. Bogus referral problem information for one of 16 "cases" was provided: assessment data indicated average performance. Fifty-two percent of the subjects recommended special education for the average child; these decisions were a function of referral…

Over 200 professionals from schools in Minnesota participated in a computer simulated investigation of psychoeducational assessment and decision making for handicapped children. Demographic data were collected from each subject; estimates of the incidence of various handicapping conditions and knowledge of assessment was evaluated by a pretest.…

Examined ability of social, economic, and educational variables to predict screening referral rates among 398 school districts in statewide preschool screening program. Results from two studies indicated that screening referral rates were not related to broad social, economic, and educational factors in any simple way. Suggests implications for…

Teachers' and psychologists' ratings of children's potential performance in reading and mathematics are influenced by selected information in referral statements read prior to having objective test scores or rating scales for evaluation. (JMF)

Educational decision makers (N=224) participated in a computer simulated decision making experience to ascertain the extent to which referral information on a child with a suspected handicapping condition biased classification decisions. Ss were randomly assigned to 16 conditions varying on the basis of the child's sex, socioeconomic status,…