In discussing the need to restructure school programs and more completely integrate students with special learning needs into regular school programs, the problems of classification of students in special education and overlapping services and programs are presented. Includes a table featuring effective classroom environments and a reference list.…

The article looks at issues in the application of recent curriculum and training initiatives to disabled young people in Great Britain including: definitions of special educational needs, the definition of handicap, integration, transition to adult life, the need for an individual transition plan, and the influene of new education policies.…

Parents can prepare themselves to participate more effectively in the special education planning process. Guidelines for parents presented in the form of questions to be asked prior to and at the annual review address the need for eliciting clarification, descriptive information, and program implications, and understanding procedures, goals, and…

Five studies on child study teams are reviewed and their implications for training included in a modular approach, the Child Student Team Training Program. The CSTTP features six modules: (1) rationale for teams, (2) referral preparation and review, (3) IEP planning, (4) procedural considerations, (5) parent involvement, and (6) administrative…

A Boston parent advocate and mother of a black child with special needs offers a first-hand account of special education in Boston, Massachusetts, in the context of court-ordered desegregation. (Author/GC)

A questionnaire completed by school psychologists indicated ethical and legal dilemmas involved in evaluation, decision making, and placement of students under P.L. 94-142. These conflicts arose from budgetary restraints and professional disagreements. The dilemmas are discussed and possible preventive measures are suggested. (DWH)

The author reviews results of eight research papers with conflicting data on effectiveness of special versus regular class placement for educable mentally retarded children, expresses need for more research, and emphasizes use of the individualized education plan to determine the most appropriate setting for a child. (MC)

States and other educational entities receiving Part B funding under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) submitted their Annual Performance Reports to the U.S. Secretary of Education on or before March 31, 2004. These reports contained information on a variety of indicators, including assessment participation and performance…

This report contains the results of the self-assessment and the validation of the self-assessment by Special Education Programs. The report addresses six principles: (1) General Supervision; (2) Free Appropriate Public Education; (3) Appropriate Evaluation; (4) Procedural Safeguards; (5) Individualized Education Program; and (6) Least Restrictive…

Under the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Vermont Department of Education's Special Education Regulations, parents have specific rights concerning their participation in the special education process. The purpose of this booklet is to inform parents of those rights and to provide them with a list of resources to…

This guide is intended to help educators develop and meet Individual Education Program (IEP) social competence goals for elementary and middle school students. These goals and objectives center on the areas of cooperation, organization, responsibility, and empathy. For each area, the guide provides: (1) examples of strategies and methods for…

This digest paper examines the special roles of parents of children with disabilities in planning for the education of their children and discusses how educators can work effectively with parents to create meaningful individualized education programs (IEPs). Barriers to parental participation in the IEP process are identified, including…

This booklet for Wisconsin parents of children with disabilities discusses the processes and functions of special education. It describes steps in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team process, including: referring a child for special education; evaluating the child; deciding what services are needed and writing the IEP; deciding where…

This document presents the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards for Students with Severe Disabilities, a subset of the general standards and alternate progress indicators that emphasize daily life skills. Introductory material reviews the development of these standards and the alternate progress indicators including the purpose, process,…

The United States Congress amended the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in 1997 to reflect changes in the special education field over the previous twenty years. In this 2-hour videotape recording designed for teachers, administrators, parents, and others, Dr. Barbara Bateman presents her insights about changes in IDEA law and…