The principal is crucial to helping previously home-schooled children make a successful transition to public school. Principals should make parents feel welcome; have teachers stress openness, warmth, and caring; give parents and students clear expectations; create a public-relations brochure; describe discipline procedures; discuss the school's…

To assist incoming freshmen, a Colorado Springs high school initiated learning resource labs staffed with academic coaches. Combining study hall, homeroom, and advisory group, the labs offer adult tutors, workshops on conflict resolution and study skills, career and technology exploration opportunities, a learning styles inventory, free reading…

This discussion of planning for individuals with autism using a life-span perspective considers stages and transitions across life, noting the special difficulty these individuals have with transitions; changing perspectives on disability in the United States; and characteristics of comprehensive life-span programs (sophisticated diagnoses, strong…

The Norwegian government recognizes that, in order to reduce recidivism, community institutions such as schools, social services, and employment and health agencies are all responsible for postrelease care of offenders. Follow-up transition classes and cooperation with the probation service are part of a total approach to aftercare. (SK)

This article discusses the transition of students with disabilities to higher education, their needs and challenges, and introduces a tool that is being piloted to address areas of concern. The questionnaire is designed to determine the readiness skills of students who indicate their desire to transition from high school to college. (CR)

Describes a program developed to assist with military personnel's transition back into Canadian society by aiding with their personal and career readjustment. Group-based life review and therapeutic enactment counseling interventions are used to identify critical incidents and facilitate the resolution of stress-related reactions soldiers have…

Investigates three types of practices used by Maryland high schools to support the transition of ninth-grade students into high school: traditional transition activities, reform-oriented practices promoted by the literature on communal school organization, and practices providing additional instruction. Discusses policy implications. (Contains 21…

School systems might know the words to the "middle school reform rag" (preadolescent's unique learning needs), but haven't put the words to music. A Johns Hopkins study recently found that innovative programs are scarce and that middle schoolers typically receive either a warmed-over elementary education or a pseudo-high school education. (MLH)

The article describes a process for use in high-school transition programs to promote student independence within the context of vocational training. Strategies described include: evaluating student independence in community-based settings, teaching student adaptability, and transferring control of student independence to work-related stimuli. A…

Describes the objectives, development, program, and supporting laboratories of a preparatory year workshop program (PWP) at King Fahd University. Lists five PWP topics with historical brief descriptions. (YP)

Elementary-school students with hearing impairments need preparation for transition to junior high school, where students receive less individual support from teachers and must accept more responsibility. Such preparation should focus on keeping up with the class, following a personal class schedule, accepting responsibility, keeping track of…

National survey data were gathered from 1,450 school districts to determine the extent to which vocational and transition-oriented services were available to secondary-age special education students. Examined were types of disabilities served, number of students, local education agency service configurations, school resources, and external…

The article defines the term, "transition," discusses the types of transitions that occur during early childhood special education, explores the rationale for studying and planning such transitions, and identifies transition issues and procedures. Tables offer data on critical events in rearing a handicapped family member, commercially available…

This case study of one resource program describes structures and techniques used in the regular classroom, playground, lunchroom, and resource room to help in mainstreaming handicapped students. In four years this program saw a 42 percent reduction in students classified as handicapped, although school enrollment grew by almost 38 percent.…

The article examines communication training for handicapped students making the transition from school to adult life in terms of the need for communication training, principles of assessment, and the communication specialist as consultant. (DB)