Focuses on the issues related to the student classification process and the disproportionate placement of black males in special education programs. The meaning and implications of the following classifications are discussed: educable mental retardation, serious emotional disturbance, specific learning disability, speech impairment, and trainable…

Provides a brief overview and analysis of the legislation of Family Preservation and Support Services. Suggests that the legislation provides the states with the necessary funding to conduct needs assessments and prepare thorough plans to address the problems facing families. Notes that the legislation involves some risks due to lack of strong…

The use of adaptive behavior information for classification and placement of African-American and white students (n=707) with mental retardation was compared. Comparisons on general intellectual functioning and several indices of adaptive behavior yielded few differences, suggesting equal treatment was achieved despite substantial…

Teacher ratings on the Aberrant Behavior Checklist were collected on 666 students with mental retardation attending special classes. Classroom placement and age had significant effects on subscale scores, whereas sex failed to affect ratings. The study concludes that the original scoring method, developed for individuals in residential facilities,…

Examines the extent to which parents get their children into the schools they choose by studying assignment of 38,700 students in the Boston (Massachusetts) schools. The majority (88.6 percent) received their first-choice school assignments, and 3.8 percent received an assignment for which no request had been made. (SLD)

Returning mildly mentally handicapped students to regular classrooms is not the least restrictive or most appropriate program. These students require a slower paced curriculum, more social behavior remediation, and a smaller pupil/teacher ratio than regular classrooms offer. Mainstreaming may lead to a higher dropout rate and subsequent need for…

This paper discusses the terms "right to an education,""appropriate education," and "equality of treatment" within the framework of recent Canadian and American court cases and literature. It is concluded that students are guaranteed some educational benefits but not necessarily maximum benefit and that a continuum of…

This survey of 125 parents and 95 teachers of typically developing children found that respondents perceived important benefits accruing to these children because of their involvement in preschool and kindergarten classes with students with disabilities. The specific nature of benefits centered on changes in social cognition, prosocial personal…

Critiques Walker's article in this issue. Argues that Walker's data do not meet technical standards regarding individual placement tests for normative comparisons, interjudge reliability, or predictive validity, and therefore do not justify the use of the Gesell test to place children in developmental kindergarten or transitional first grade. (GLR)

Full inclusion is a confusing topic. Many people misunderstand the "least restrictive environment" provision of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Districts need not educate every disabled child in a regular classroom for the entire day, but have numerous options, so long as each child is carefully evaluated. Recent…

During inclusion discussions, board members must remember their goal--ensuring that schools meet the needs of all students, including those with disabilities. Boards should ask themselves how they decide where to educate disabled students, how other diverse populations are taught, what training is provided to help teachers address diverse needs,…

Analysis of the school performance of 372 children (median age 9.2 years) placed in the care of nonparental relatives in Baltimore (Maryland) found higher rates of grade retention; higher participation in special and remedial education; and significant academic achievement and cognitive and language deficits compared to peers. (Author/DB)

Assessment of age, disability severity, developmental status, functional abilities, and behavioral characteristics of 162 children (ages 11 to 102 months) found that children enrolled in inclusive programs were more mildly disabled and functioned at higher levels than counterparts in programs exclusively for children with disabilities.…

Presents results of a nationwide survey to determine measures being used to diagnose reading difficulties and place students in learning disability or Chapter 1 classes. Finds that calls for change in assessment and placement practices have largely been ignored and implications suggest a need for reform. (MG)

The 1990 Josephine L. Taylor Leadership Institute addressed the theme "Funding Drives Service Decisions: A Moral Dilemma." Institute participants identified specific dilemmas related to legislation, funding, and placement issues in education and rehabilitation of visually handicapped individuals. Participants subsequently generated solutions in…