In this guide, transition is defined as the period of time when adolescents are moving into adulthood. This guide is designed to (a) help youth and the adults who work with them understand the role of assessment in transition and (b) describe ways to collect and use data that will lead to informed choices based on accurate assessment of each…

For several years, states have listed accommodations allowed on state assessments. States soon found that the definitions of these accommodations varied not only across states, but also within states and even in schools. Over the past few years, states have made greater attempts to define each accommodation and to decide whether the accommodation…

This report compares actual performance with the projected levels of performance set out in National Council on Disability's (NCD) annual performance plan. The report shows a positive link between the allocated resources and NCD's performance. NCD's assessment review showed that it was successful in meeting its goals and achieving its intended…

"Data Trends" reports present summaries of research on mental health services for children and adolescents and their families. The article summarized in this "Data Trends" discusses a primary goal of the President's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health--to transform the existing mental health system into one that provides meaningful choices and…

Background: To provide a national picture of the academic achievements of American students, the National Center for Education Statistics has administered the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) periodically since 1969, but there has been no similar national picture of the academic achievement of youth with disabilities. Purpose: To…

This book is the fourth of four volumes in a directory of more than 1,000 discretionary grants and contracts supported by the Research to Practice Division of the Office of Special Education Programs. This volume focuses on projects concerned with technical assistance, dissemination, parent information, and state improvement. The Technical…

This report updates and summarizes what is known from research on the effects of test accommodations for students with disabilities and also provides direction to the design of critically needed future research on accommodations. A review was conducted of 46 empirical research studies on accommodations published from 1999 through 2001. The…

This report profiles child wellbeing for each state and the District of Columbia, using data from the 1990 and 2000 Decennial Censuses. Each profile includes a graph showing 1990-00 trends for five key indicators of child wellbeing: children in poverty; children in single-parent households; teens who are high school dropouts; children who have…

This book presents the "active learner" instructional approach to working with secondary school students with learning disabilities and/or attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This approach combines the diagnostic prescriptive approach with principles of individualization, direct instruction, strategy instruction, and integration of…

This guide compares statistics for black and non-Hispanic white children in each state to assess gaps in economic, educational, and social wellbeing. It uses data from the 2000 U.S. Decennial Census and addresses: demographics (e.g., number of children under age 18, under age 6, ages 6-12, and ages 13-17); families and households (e.g., percent of…

This report summarizes the state of knowledge about children and youth with disabilities at risk of delinquency or already involved with the juvenile justice system. It reviews the existing research as well as perspectives of service providers, administrators, policy makers, and advocates. Following an executive summary and introductory chapter,…

This paper discusses the preparation of a diverse early childhood workforce, including the child care community, Head Start, and paraprofessionals who serve families through community-based programs that should reflect the background, race, and ethnicity of the children and families served (NAEYC, 1996), as well as the many fields that are part of…

A critical component in the provision of services to young children (birth through age 5) is an effective system for identifying and referring children and their families, who may be eligible for early intervention or special education.This report provides a synthesis of current practice in establishing "child find" services in local…

Emerging Literacy Technology Curriculum (ELiTeC 2, [referred to as E2 in this report]), housed at the Center for Best Practices in Early Childhood at Western Illinois University, was funded in 2000 by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) as a 3-year Phase 3 Steppingstones of Technology Research on…

Under Part C of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), participating states and jurisdictions must provide services to children who are either experiencing developmental delays, or who have a diagnosed mental or physical condition that has a high probability of resulting in developmental delay. Additionally, states may choose to…