This handbook provides guidelines to assist North Dakota educators who are developing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities. It is presented in four sections. The first section highlights the major changes brought about by the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), including…

This document identifies the three components that frame overall career and life role education that helps students prepare to integrate the demands of six life roles (individual, learner, producer, consumer, family member, citizen) into family, community, and work settings. The three components that help prepare students to meet the grade 12…

Poor social skills among young elementary school students can result in lack of cooperation with others and an inability to resolve conflicts. This action research project examined the impact of a program for improving social competence through improving listening skills, cooperation, respect for others, and respect for authority. Participating in…

Outlines the skills necessary (objectivity, effective parental involvement, assessment preparation, implementing a least-biased assessment, analyzing the information) for a multidisciplinary team to make appropriate educational assessments of minority students as mandated by the Education for All Children Handicapped Act (Public Law 94-142).…

Describes the adaptation of the Future Problem-Solving Process (FPS) in a global studies class. The process applies state-of-the-art critical thinking and problem solving to unstable areas such as the Middle East and the former Soviet Union. Includes handouts directing the students through the process. (MJP)

Describes preservice teacher education reform efforts at California State University San Marcos via program development and curricular design innovation. Beginning faculty worked on creating a middle level teacher education program informed by critiques of teacher education, visions for restructured middle schooling, and institutional realities.…

Cooperation--between elementary physical education (PE) specialists, classroom teachers, students, and others involved in elementary PE--is the theme of this nine-article feature. Topics include professional recognition for PE, integration of PE into the elementary curriculum, PE and classroom teacher research, field day activities, and…

A teacher describes how the staff at his junior high school, and particularly his ninth-grade team, worked on continuous improvement in three ways: restructuring the working roles and relationships among staff; restructuring the working roles and relationships between staff and students; and merging systemic advancements and education philosophy…

An evaluation was conducted of an educational planning process for inclusive education called COACH (Choosing Options and Accommodations for Children), which was used with 30 elementary and secondary students who are deaf-blind. Interviews with 72 teachers, parents, and staff addressed effects on relationships between parents and professionals and…

Teaches students how to conduct assessment interviews and conceptualize client problems. Student teams interview the instructor who role plays a client. Students receive feedback and are asked questions designed to develop hypotheses concerning the nature and etiology of the problem. Examines advantages of this approach. (NL)

Parents need to understand the responsibilities of people at all levels of school governance. This paper discusses the role of the state government (usually state boards of education), the local school board, the superintendent, and the principal. A sidebar presents information on teamwork involving PTAs, principals, superintendents, and school…

The purpose of this article is to discuss "small-group apprenticeships (SGAs)" as a method to instruct cell culture techniques to high school participants. The study aimed to teach cell culture practices and to introduce advanced imaging techniques to solve various biomedical engineering problems. Participants designed and completed experiments…

NonStop University is an online university community application service designed, developed, and deployed by Hewlett-Packard (HP) to serve the computer product training needs of 2,500 staff members in more than 50 countries. By identifying a set of learner characteristics that supported a set of key elements while using technology and focusing on…

This guide provides suggestions for planning and implementing inclusion programs to enhance education for all children. Recent laws supporting the rights of children with disabilities are considered, along with the confusion regarding how to meet the needs of all children in the schools. Variations in inclusion practices among states and districts…

This annotated bibliography lists approximately 95 citations on interprofessional, interagency, and family-professional collaboration in delivery of children's mental health services. Section 1, "Interprofessional/Interdisciplinary Collaboration: The Need" examines articles which describe new approaches to providing family-centered service,…