This review examines the effects of three educational practices on children's readiness for first grade. The practices, kindergarten retention, developmental kindergarten, and transitional first grade, are intended to provide children with an early extra year to give them more time to prepare academically and socially for regular first-grade…

This document contains information about the medical transition of youth with disabilities from child-centered to adult health care. The generic characteristics and needs of young people with long-term illnesses and disabilities are especially emphasized. Guidance is provided for appropriate health care of the adolescent during the transition…

This theme issue on transitions for individuals with disabilities contains nine papers discussing transition programs and issues. "Transition Issues for the 1990s," by Michael J. Ward and William D. Halloran, discusses self-determination, school responsibility for transition, continued educational engagement of at-risk students, and service…

In June 1993, a symposium was held in New York City, Albany, Rochester, and Long Island to introduce the German "dual system" of education and training for youth making the school-to-work transition. Four representatives of the German education and training system and more than 500 representatives of New York's business, labor,…

This case study examines the relationships of three organizations participating in the Northwest Wisconsin School-To-Work Consortium, and analyzes the consortium's development over the past 4 years. Signed into law in May 1994, the federal School-To-Work Opportunities Act marked the beginning of a new educational movement to better prepare…

This study, undertaken from 1983-84 through 1988-89, compared the relative effectiveness of two alternative programs (structured English immersion and late-exit transitional bilingual education) with that of the program typically funded through the Bilingual Education Act, the early-exit transitional bilingual education program. The…

Citing issues of professional qualifications and reward systems that the field of early childhood education must resolve as preschool programs become part of the public schools, this paper argues for adopting a dynamic career ladder model of program staffing. The dynamic model assumes a mix of staffing in early childhood programs wherever they are…

The District of Columbia Board of Education declared the 1990-1991 school year "The Year of the Young Child." During this year, the district encouraged programs that: (1) responded to the learning patterns of children; (2) involved parents in their children's development; (3) provided a range of services such as health and nutrition…

This paper examines transition from school to post-school activities for students with chronic illness and disabilities, with reference to: four legislative acts that impact transition services, seven legislated implementation mechanisms, seven outcomes areas, and a social system for evaluating services to transitioning youth. Transition…

This paper describes a supported transition plan for preschool students with special needs who are entering a kindergarten classroom. The transition plan includes the following phases: (1) make decision regarding kindergarten placement; (2) develop a preplacement plan which includes a visitation to the preschool program by kindergarten staff; and…

The General Accounting Office (GAO) conducted a study for two purposes: (1) to verify how much it costs the Coast Guard to send a student to the Naval Academy Preparatory School in preparation for the Coast Guard Academy and explain what is included in the cost; and (2) to determine to what extent the school is helping the minority profile at the…

This volume provides an overview of the proceedings of a 1986 meeting which looked at Transition Institute at Illinois programs that help students with disabilities move into postsecondary study or work, discussed how participants could receive technical assistance, and disseminated project information. Included are the agenda, the findings from…

The Mathematics, Engineering, Science Achievement (MESA) Program was established in 1970 to increase the number of American Indian, Black, Mexican-American, and Puerto Rican students who graduate from a California university prepared to enter mathematics-based careers. Developed initially with an exclusive focus on high school students, MESA…

This newsletter issue describes the importance of vocational assessment in the educational process of students with disabilities. Vocational assessment is defined, its purposes are explained, and the ways in which vocational assessment can benefit teenagers with special needs are discussed. Types of informal and formal assessments are explored, as…

Increasing numbers of capable learning disabled students are attempting to make the difficult transition from high school to postsecondary programming. A comprehensive approach to better serve the college-bound learning disabled high school student includes early transition planning, instructional programming, social skills intervention, and…