Self-directed Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) allow students to assume leadership and become actively involved in the decisions made at their IEP meetings. This article describes how through direct instruction, social skills discussion, active practice, and role-playing students are prepared to facilitate their meeting. This active…

The study evaluated the IEPs/Individualized Transition Plans of 45 students who were in special education and foster care, and compared them to the plans of 45 students who were in special education only. Results indicate that the transition plans of foster youth with disabilities were poor in quality, both in absolute terms and in comparison to…

Given the documented benefits of family involvement in educational planning, engaging families throughout the school years is strongly advocated. However, barriers continue to impede families from collaborative partnering in educational planning. In this qualitative study the perceptions of six families were examined prior to and after the…

"Data collected from eligibility assessments need to be useful and connected across all areas of service delivery." The content and flow of information have enormous implications for practice. Professionals are challenged because they lack functional information needed to create useful goals and objectives, implement effective…

This manual is designed to help advocates, including parents, obtain special education for children with disabilities residing in New Jersey. It explains the requirements of the federal statute governing special education--the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)--and the federal regulations implementing IDEA, as well as the state…

On December 3, 2004, President Bush signed the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA 2004) into law. This law reauthorized and amended the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). On August 3, 2006, the U.S. Department of Education issued the regulations implementing the IDEIA 2004. The changes in the IDEIA 2004…

The journey toward 100% proficiency is most successful when a whole school works as a team. School leaders must focus their school's energy and effort on schoolwide initiatives that will make the changes needed to increase student learning and improve students' scores on state tests. The structure of the school and the collaboration of the faculty…

Intended as a guide for replicating parts or all of the Mountain-Plains Career Education Model IV, this handbook provides a detailed description of a residential, family-based education program developed to improve the economic potential and lifestyle of selected student families in a six-state area. The handbook is divided into seven chapters and…

Resource materials and program planning guidelines are set forth for the creation of a multi-level, modular program in English as a second language for adult learners. An overview of the modular system briefly discusses staff requirements, program designs, and laboratory materials. The role and duties of the teacher aide are treated. Seven…

Individualization and personalization of instruction in general and in foreign language study are examined. The historical and theoretical background of individualization and aspects of various programs are discussed. The concentration is on the literature and programs as developed in the 1971-73 period. Individualization of foreign language…

One in a series devoted to transportation career education, this guide which is intended for use by teachers in grades 11 and 12, presents a program to prepare students for careers in transportation. Section I gives an introduction to career education and its four phases: career awareness, orientation, exploration, and preparation. Section II…

The inservice training package for teachers of severely and profoundly handicapped children consists of six field tested modules. Each module consists of the following components: objectives (general and specific), instructional methodology, instructor materials (lecture notes and transparencies), participant materials (worksheets and handouts),…

This paper reports on the development and use of several tools designed to sensitize caregivers to the fact that infants are very different from one another and that caregiving needs to be tailored to the styles and needs of each child. Four approaches were used: (1) having caregivers rate the infants regularly on a small number of rating scales…

An application of evaluation methodology to innovative educational programs through a case study of a Chicago suburban high school program for alternative education is presented. The evaluation methodology encompasses the difficulty in combining comparative programs, individual-diagnostic, and individual developmental measures, the selection of…

Children with disabilities have a right to a free appropriate public education (FAPE). Children differ in mental abilities, sensory development, physical traits, emotional or social behaviors, or communication skills. Some may require modification to their school program or special education and related services in order to benefit from their…