Discusses a conceptual model for understanding the participation of families from culturally diverse backgrounds in the Individualized Education Program/Individualized Family Service Plan process. Predisposing family factors, perceptions of disability, enabling factors, family-professional collaboration, and systemic support are explored, and…

Details delivery of Individual Education Program objectives to K-3 students with low-incidence disabilities. Presents data on which teachers were present in the classroom and who delivered the teaching opportunities, frequency of IEP instruction, and instructional context of the lesson. Discusses the low level of IEP-related instruction in terms…

Accountability countability, choice, equity, and social cohesion are core parts of the public debates over the charter school movement. To examine these important issues, we utilize the "1999-2000 Schools and Staffing Survey" to estimate the possible charter effect on public and private schools. Analyses of charter, public,and private schools…

Students with disabilities represent a relatively small but important group of students in U.S. high schools. The education of these students is heavily influenced by federal and state law as well as by longstanding beliefs about the purpose of education and the extreme heterogeneity of the population. Until recently, general educational policies…

This textbook emphasizes practical guidelines and approaches that work with special students mainstreamed into regular classrooms. The background of the mainstream and inclusion movements and labeling practices is considered, along with specific exceptionalities and methods effective in teaching children who have learning disabilities, mental…

This project studied the effects of implementing a computerized management information system developed for special education administrators. The Intelligent Administration Support Program (IASP), an expert system and database program, assisted in information acquisition and analysis pertaining to the district's quality of decisions and procedures…

This booklet for parents of young children with special needs provides a variety of child-rearing suggestions as well as a listing of resources. After an introduction which defines special needs and summarizes basic principles, the following chapters address: (1) the family as the child's most important support; (2) the evaluation process; (3)…

This newsletter includes six articles related to the Regional Resource and Federal Centers for Special Education Network and its efforts in the area of standards and accountability. In "Teacher Training and Skills: Necessary Ingredients for Standards and Accountability," John Copenhaver discusses ways in which the Regional Resource and…

This paper provides the text of a Congressional presentation outlining the position of the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC) concerning reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The CEC believes that the fundamental rights and protections for children and their families, as well as the basic fiscal and…

Noting that Head Start has become the largest community-based preschool program providing services to children with disabilities, this guide is intended to build the skills of Head Start staff in effectively using the Individualized Education Program (IEP) to accommodate children with disabilities. Following an introductory section, the guide…

This book presents, in a question-and-answer format, a comprehensive guide to special education law, especially the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Following a table of questions and suggestions on using the book, individual chapters cover law on the following topics: (1) eligibility (e.g., under IDEA and other laws, specific…

This book offers a knowledge base for the integration of basic skills into vocational teacher education. Introductory materials include a project overview, mission and goals of the curriculum, belief statements, curriculum format, information on preparation and time issues, new basic skills definition, and a guide to lesson categories. The book…

The question of responsibility for the education of disabled students has become a controversial issue. This article explores the debate between proponents of special education and of mainstreaming for academically handicapped children. Under Public Law 94-142, disabled children are guaranteed an appropriate public education in the least…

The Career Skills Enhancement Program (CSEP) was a National Workplace Literacy Program offered to Santa Clara County (California) Office of Education (COE) employees. A job skills study involved personal interviews, job shadowing, and examination of job descriptions and materials used by employees. Based on the study and initial needs assessment,…

This document was developed to provide a comprehensive, single source of information about the rights and responsibilities of parents of handicapped children and the resources available to them. The first section focuses on why parents should be involved in their children's education and lists seven major reasons for parental participation. The…