This newsletter issue reviews the research and literature on issues and best practices in programs to facilitate the transition of students with disabilities to adult life. First, the definition of transition services under the 1997 Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is presented and explained. Next, a…

Working with postmodern ideas, this book questions the search to define and measure quality in the early childhood field and its tendency to reduce philosophical issues of value to purely technical and managerial issues of expert knowledge and measurement. The book argues that there are ways other than the "discourse of quality" for…

This book discusses the poor self-image of children with learning disabilities, reviews the history of identifying and serving children with learning disabilities, and addresses the need to serve children who are failing in school but do not qualify as having a learning disability. The book emphasizes the role and responsibility of the school for…

This document provides a comprehensive list of best practices associated with effective and efficient programs for students with various disabilities: social/behavioral, sensory, physical, and cognitive and/or communicative. It is intended to assist in the design and implementation of least intrusive, chronologically age-appropriate, gender and…

Uninformed of the power of play as an educational tool, many people view play as a waste of time and call for a return to teaching basic academic skills during the period of early childhood. This chapter demonstrates that play is a major vehicle for learning, focusing on the dynamics of sociodramatic interaction that are integral to understanding…

Discussed are four issues of importance to educational planners who want to implement nonformal education programs: (1) definitional and identity issues--what nonformal education is; (2) policy issues--role of nonformal education in the new distribution of goods and power; (3) institutional issues--the delivery process; and (4) curricular issues.…

Major reform in the teaching profession involves (1) a shift from the view of teaching as a lifelong career, (2) a broadened definition of who a teacher is, and (3) a system of teacher self-renewal that involves national coordination, focuses on intrinsic awards, and includes rank differentiation among classroom teachers. (CS)

State-adopted definitions of the term "severely handicapped" and certification requirements for teachers of severely handicapped students were surveyed. Seventy percent of the states had some type of definition and state education agencies (SEAs) required general special education, categorical, or specialized certification for teachers of severely…

Concerns about misuse of "poor self-concept" are expressed. Criticisms center around uncertainty of basic assumptions about values Blacks and Indians place upon themselves, and particularly on deemphasis of that part of self-concept dependent on group identity. Before educators can talk about bolstering poor "self-concepts," certain socioeconomic…

Describes rural education in terms of its traditional values, characteristics, most persistent problem (recruiting and retaining qualified teachers), and ultimate challenge. (Author/AH)

Discusses problems of definition of elderly abuse. Examines data and research on the rates of elderly abuse and factors found related to elderly abuse. Critiques theories developed to explain the abuse of the elderly. Presents recommendations for research and practice. (RC)

Structure of physics can be treated as an instructional variable by teachers who make the choices: defined versus derived concepts, operational versus paraphrase definitions, and theoretical versus empirical relationships. Operational definitions and empirical relationships are recommended for beginning students; paraphrase definitions and…

A report by the National Advisory Council on Women's Educational Programs on sexual harassment of women students is summarized. The report is in two parts--a general analysis of the problem and its ramifications including definitions, and a legal theory of sexual harassment as prohibited discrimination. (Author/MLW)

The article reviews the state of the art focusing on identification, evaluation, intervention, and resource allocation - and discusses several issues bearing on unserved and underserved exceptional children. (DLS)

Responses were obtained from all 50 states and three additional service units on a survey of programs for adolescents with behavioral disorders. (CL)