Reviews current issues that affect the education of students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Discusses best-practice methods by educators; student placement, including increased reliance on alternative schools and other nontraditional settings; and job expectations and working conditions of teachers who work with troubled students.…

A study investigated the effectiveness of a school-based prevention program consisting of social skills activities, peer tutoring, and individual and class-wide behavioral management components for improving the behaviors of 38 students (ages 5-11) with emotional disturbances. Results indicated that inappropriate behaviors decreased and positive…

A total of 79 boys with behavior disorders were assigned to Multidimensional Treatment Foster Care (MTFC) or Group Care. Data at 1 year post-discharge showed that boys in MTFC had significantly fewer arrests, engaged in fewer delinquent activities, spent fewer days incarcerated, and ran away from their placements less often. (Contains references.)…

This article reviews the development and current status of alternatives to the federal definition of emotional disturbance or behavior disorders. It notes that several states are now revising their own terminologies or definitions in response to the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act that dropped the term…

Examines the validity of the conduct disorder hypothesis of adolescent drug involvement on a large drug clinic-referred sample (N=2,582). It was hypothesized that factors of delinquency would account for the most variance in drug use compared to three competing factors (psychological distress, nonconventional values, and family distress). Analyses…

Presents an intervention designed to overcome some of the difficulties rural parents encounter in accessing services for young children with behavior problems. Results, based on 24 parents, indicate that children in a treatment group had lower levels of behavior problems and that parents reported increased levels of parenting competence. (RJM)

A survey of 288 elementary and secondary North Dakota schools found 75% had a school refusal behavior (SRB) identification system in place, 57% had a school psychologist available, principals were most frequently responsible for identifying school refusers, 2.3% of students were identified as school refusers of which 49% falsely claimed illness,…

This study applied functional behavioral analysis to the destructive behaviors of two young boys with multiple disabilities including behavior disorders. Results suggested that the subjects' destructive behaviors were sensitive to both escape and attention as reinforcers. Results support the importance of establishing operations in determining the…

A study investigated the impact of rhythmic entrainment on an 11-year-old girl with autism who engaged in head jerking and screaming. Rhythmic entrainment intervention was more effective when she exhibited behavior that resulted from a moderate level of stress and less effective when stressors were more severe. (CR)

Gives a brief overview of the historical and current understanding of and care for United Kingdom children with learning difficulties or mental retardation who display challenging behavior. Maintains that challenging behavior is not a new phenomenon but has existed throughout the history of learning difficulty. (Author)

Results of a study indicate that of 37 students who met the criteria for hyperactivity-impulsivity-inattention and conduct problems in third grade, 13 continued to meet the criteria in fifth grade. Students who remained stable, who improved, or who became worse differed significantly on key risk and protective variables. (Contains references.)…

This article reviews the literature and examines the effect of increased opportunities to respond (OTR) to academic requests on academic and behavioral outcomes of students with emotional/behavioral disorders. Findings indicate increased rates of OTR result in higher task engagement and academic achievement rates and low rates of inappropriate…

Many schools and districts are effectively using a three-tiered approach to identify and eliminate risk factors and increase protective factors in students. Schools that use this approach believe that students must be taught not only appropriate behaviors but how to use these skills effectively in multiple environments. Article identifies programs…

This study evaluated a strategy for reducing severe problem behavior in an employment situation for three adults with mental retardation and autism. The strategy involved intervention based on hypotheses about the problem behavior's maintaining variables, multiple component intervention, and evaluation using a measure of latency to problem…

This article examines the relationship between an adolescent with behavior disorders, his family, and the system of care, through a single case analysis. The methodology used to collect the case record and interview data and to analyze and graphically illustrate the data are presented to demonstrate use of qualitative data in program evaluation.…