Situated in the heart of the fertile San Joaquin Valley twenty miles north of Fresno, the city of Madera has a population of 56,710 people. Agriculture is the driving force behind the local economy; the area produces more than 100 crops including raisin grapes, almonds, figs, pistachios, alfalfa, corn, milk, cattle and poultry. The total value of…

Opportunity to Learn (OTL) stems from the basic premise that there is an important relationship between the quality and intensity of classroom instruction and students' levels of academic success. For many students with disabilities, an emphasis on OTL has become national priority, yet measuring its impact is a complex challenge. The first purpose…

This report addresses the reporting requirements of Public Law 26-26 and the provisions of "No Child Left Behind" ("NCLB") as described in the Guam Department of Education Board adopted "District Action Plan" ("DAP"). Public Law 26-26, Section 3106 states that "No later than thirty (30) days following…

To raise the achievement of every student, Maryland designed "Achievement Matters Most," a plan for public schools that sets goals in the areas of achievement, teaching, testing, safety, and family involvement in schools. Achievement Matters Most supports Maryland schools' efforts to meet the goals of the federal No Child Left Behind…

This booklet, which is designed for Colorado families with children who have physical or mental disabilities or are at risk for such disabilities, outlines six support mechanisms for these families. The mechanisms include: (1) the early identification process, which is used to locate, evaluate, and identify eligible young children; (2) case…

This booklet, the third and last in a series of monographs on solutions to the problem of school dropouts, is designed to provide guidance for local organizations to address the needs of students at risk of dropping out. It sets forth the goals and objectives of a planning approach that illustrates how local communities could organize to increase…

This practicum sought to develop a video-based orientation program for a day care center. A one-time orientation meeting was not feasible for this community college-based center, due to flexible scheduling, staggered starting dates of new staff, and a diverse staff. An increase in staff size, space, and enrollment intensified the already difficult…

This monograph presents identified best practices in the development of Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSP) as required for families who have young children with disabilities, by Public Law 99-457, the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments (1986). Chapter One presents an overview of the monograph's development and use. Chapter Two…

Research on communication instruction for students with severe intellectual disabilities is reviewed, focusing on the pragmatic elements involved in accomplishing a successful communicative exchange. A federally funded project, called the "Conversation and Social Competence Research Project," is then described. The project sought to…

The use of computer assisted programs in career exploration and occupational information is well documented. Various phases of the vocational counseling process, i.e., diagnostic evaluation, program planning, career exploration, case management, and program evaluation, offer similarly promising opportunities for computerization. Using the…

Presented is the administrative guide for Project ACTIVE (All Children Totally Involved Exercising) designed to assist school districts or agencies in training educators to organize, conduct, and evaluate individualized-personalized physical education programs for handicapped students, prekindergarten through high school. Chapter I provides the…

As an aid in devising individualized programs for handicapped students, the document presents a breakdown of developmental skills. Behavioral statements are arranged hierarchically for eleven skill areas (subskills in parentheses); gross motor (walking, eye/arm coordination, singing), fine motor control (grasp, block manipulation, and finger…

The paper discusses the activities and processes by which the local education agencies (LEAs) are implementing the provisions of Public Law 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act) and describes and analyzes the consequences which occur at the individual LEA/community level. The preliminary findings of a series of nine case studies of…

The Illinois Network of Exemplary Occupational Education Programs for Handicapped and Disadvantaged Students developed demonstration programs for the handicapped at six high schools, two vocational centers, and one community college. The Network was designed to demonstrate those practices which resulted in the provision of effective services to…

The response of the Teacher Corps project schools to the mandates of P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) is reported. Changes in school based organization and management stemming from the legislation are divided into three categories: (1) general school types of procedures, including such areas as evaluation and assessment…