Special education teachers' skills with classroom organization and behavior management affect the emergence and persistence of behavior problems as well as the success of inclusive practice for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). Adequate special education teacher preparation and strong classroom organization and behavior…

Current emphasis on teacher effectiveness in educational policy poses a challenge for the evaluation of special education teachers and English language learner (ELL) specialists. Most evaluation systems focus on student achievement and teacher practice; however, few systems have the capacity to differentiate among specialty area educators, address…

Teacher preparation to deliver inclusive services to students with disabilities is increasingly important because of changes in law and policy emphasizing student access to, and achievement in, the general education curriculum. Inclusion of students with disabilities in general education environments has a long history in special education law;…

Research on variables that predict disproportionate representation of minority students in special education has often ignored an important variable -- academic achievement. This study examined the prediction of representation of students from various minority racial/ethnic groups using district-level academic, demographic, and economic blocks of…

The purpose of this paper is to provide research and recommendations related to teacher quality and effectiveness, specifically addressing the area of classroom management to improve outcomes in general and special education. Focusing on classroom organization and behavior management is necessary as a preventive approach for students who are…

Analyzes results of surveys of school-psychology practitioners and faculty. Finds that women dominate in practice, men dominate in faculty position, while special education continues to dominate service. Role preference is more on direct intervention and problem-solving consultation. Results suggest a slight change in characteristics of school…

Discusses historical and contemporary influences on changes in special education assessment, emphasizing three persistent themes: accurate classification, fairness to minority students, and special education outcomes. Dunn's contributions to each theme are discussed, along with other influences such as legislation and litigation. Current dynamics…

This article reviews the evolution of placement litigation based on the overrepresentation of minority students in special educational programs for students with mild disabilities, provides commentaries on four court trials that have yielded judicial opinion and discusses the implications of this litigation for the reform of special education…

Investigated quality indicators of prereferral interventions (behavioral definition, direct measure, step-by-step plan, treatment integrity, graphing of results, direct comparison to baseline) as predictors of prereferral intervention outcomes among teachers and related services personnel on 312 students. Interventions varied in quality, use of…

Specific learning disabilities (SLD) conceptual definitions and classification criteria were examined through a survey of state education agency (SEA) SLD contact persons in an effort to update information last published in 1996. Most prior trends continued over the last decade. Results showed that SEA SLD classification criteria continue to be…

Examined dimensions of social competence by several measures of adaptive behavior, social skills, and peer acceptance among 452 elementary school students. Found method of measurement to be most important factor in assessment of social competence. Considers interacting influences of method, setting, and content on assessment of social competence.…

Overrepresentation of minorities in special education classes and bias in IQ tests that allegedly underlies such placements are discussed in regard to the use of psychological tests for educational classification. Concludes that the use of tests, rather than the tests themselves, leads to discriminatory placement. Suggests solutions to this…

Recommendations from "Placing Children in Special Education" are reviewed, focusing on: (1) inaccurate interpretation of overrepresentation of minority mildly mentally retarded students, (2) use of prereferral interventions, (3) cross-categorical programing, (4) application of an outcomes criterion, and (5) expansion of regular education…

Recent court decisions concerning the demographics of placement of students in various program tracks are reviewed in three articles. Focus is on special cases involving charges of overrepresentation of minorities in programs for the educably mentally retarded. Implications for school psychology and special education are discussed. (TJH)

Current school psychological services in special education are examined. Reform is recommended due to serious questions concerning the reliability, validity, efficiency, and effectiveness of the current classification system and educational programs for mildly-handicapped students. The nature/direction of reforms--toward pre-referral interventions…