Most students with complex support needs are taught in separate special education classrooms; one reason is teams that inappropriately use the intensity of support needs as the basis for placement in more restrictive placements. This study used Bayesian multilevel modeling to determine whether the intensity of student support needs predicted…

Separate school placements persist for students with extensive support needs (ESN) despite longstanding federal mandates for all students with disabilities to be educated in the least restrictive environment. This study extends research on separate school placement for students with ESN to explore the potential impact of locale and charter school…

Early Intensive Behavioral Intervention (EIBI) can be effective for supporting skills acquisition among children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Few studies have followed children with ASD who received EIBI into schools. The purpose of this study was to investigate educational outcomes specific to instructional placement, standardized test…

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) should include a summary of the student's current skills and needs as well as annual goals that support their progress in the general education curriculum; however, IEPs for students with complex support needs may be missing required information. We investigated IEP goals and Present Levels of Academic…

This study investigates the academic outcomes of a special education student cohort in the state of Indiana placed in high and low inclusion settings. Student scores in these two settings from the Indiana State Test of Educational Progress (ISTEP+ English/Language Arts and math) were compared from fourth grade in 2014 through the eighth grade in…

The least restrictive environment (LRE) mandate suggests a preference for educating students with disabilities in general education settings provided their needs can be met there. This study examined national trends in the educational placements of students with disabilities ages 6 to 17 in the 50 states and the District of Columbia from 1990…

Deaf education is characterized by several distinctive aspects, beginning with qualities unique to deaf and hard-of-hearing (DHH) children and their families. Consisting of approximately 1.2% of the special education K-12 population, educational and disability systems often struggle to meet the unique challenges that these children and their…

In 2005, to address concerns about students who might fall in the "gap" between the regular assessment and the alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS), the U.S. Department of Education announced that states could develop alternate assessments based on modified achievement standards (AA-MAS). This article…

The present study investigates the relationship between childhood placement in special education and adult well-being among 1,377 low-income, minority children participating in the Chicago Longitudinal Study. Roughly 16% of the sample received special education services in Grades 1 to 8. After accounting for sociodemographic factors and early…

Despite the continued growth of inclusive practices, an increasing number of students with disabilities are being served in alternative school settings. However, the number of students served in these settings, and the services they are receiving, remains virtually unexplored. This study reports the results of a survey of alternative schools in…

Current federal legislation holds schools accountable for ensuring that all students, including those with disabilities, make adequate yearly progress on academic achievement measures, while also including students with disabilities in general education settings whenever possible. Schools are thus expected to be both excellent and equitable in…

The focus of this study was on increasing the knowledge base on students with disabilities at the secondary level. Data were gathered on 559 classified secondary students with disabilities served in four educational options: cotaught classes, resource rooms, alternate day support programs, and no direct supports. Results indicate that there are…

The study examined DSM III (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual) Axis I and Axis II diagnoses in 350 school children (aged 6-14) referred for psychiatric evaluation. Diagnostic categories were examined for relationships to age, sex, ethnicity, IQ, achievement, and special education placement. Findings suggested certain diagnostic groups appeared to…

Discussed is the concept of "least restrictive alternative," its definition, and its implications in special education. (Author/DLS)

Analysis of teacher ratings, referral, and special education placement data on 74 hyperactive and 101 control Ss revealed that hyperactive Ss were more likely to be served by special education than control Ss. Aggression among hyperactive but not control Ss was associated with receiving services. (CL)