A review of studies of the self-concepts of learning disabled children (LDC) found that LDC have lower self-concepts than do non-handicapped students, with the greatest differences in academic, rather than general, self-concept. Results are discussed in terms of factors associated with self-concept development and the negative effects on…

A survey of 49 state directors of special education found that prereferral interventions for students suspected of having a handicap were required or recommended by most states. Also determined were types of interventions frequently used, professionals responsible for designing and implementing the interventions, and the interventions'…

A study involving 215 hearing-impaired students and 63 mathematics teachers concluded that student background factors and the quality of instruction a hearing-impaired student receives are primary determinants of achievement in mainstreamed settings. Mainstreaming with an interpreter was found to have no specific effect on achievement for…

Expert systems technology was applied to placement decisions of deaf and hard-of-hearing children. The application involved developing a model of how experts make placement decisions. The decisions of the expert system were found to agree with those of a majority of teachers in 90% of the cases. (DB)

The effect of English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) specific sentence-level errors was examined using 18 randomly chosen essays representing the range of ESL writing found in most large testing situations. Results suggest that graders with insufficient training in evaluating ESL essays differ in their judgment of the weight assigned to ESL error,…

Untracking schools seek to reduce student isolation, expand student access to valued knowledge, and extend high expectations to all students. Innovative strategies and support programs, such as Parents and Counselors Together (PACT) and Achieving Via Individual Determination (AVID), can help close the gap between student aspirations and school…

In November 1992, Japanese Ministry of Education declared middle school teachers could no longer use distribution tables produced by private testing companies to predetermine high school students' curricula. Failure to implement reform stems from structural and cultural roots. By presorting students and molding their expectations, traditional…

Using data from the 1988 National Education Longitudinal Study, this research investigated whether ability grouping level magnifies the effects of background differences on mathematics achievement for eighth-grade public school students. Students in high-ability groups viewed math more positively, exhibited more appropriate behavior in math class,…

This study examined effects of delayed school entry on later elementary school grade retention and special education service rates. Students (n=279) who delayed school entry were most often male and were placed in special education programs in significantly higher proportions than nondelayed-entry students. No significant effect of delayed entry…

Relationships among state identification rates for serious emotional disturbances and economic and demographic variables were explored. Variation in per pupil revenue explained about one-fourth of the variance in identification rates. States differed significantly based on region, elementary and secondary expenditure, per pupil revenue, and per…

The experiences and perspectives of nine parents committed to inclusive education for their children with disabilities are analyzed. Findings include: parents viewed inclusive education as a fundamental right for their children, and they employed numerous strategies to obtain inclusive education, including seeking assistance from the courts and…

Describes inadequacies of three policies intended to enhance child readiness for education: raising the age of school entry, retaining students in kindergarten, and extra-year programs. Argues that they are inconsistent with educational research and potentially harmful. Suggests the use of curriculum-based performance tests to help teachers and…

Compares the effects of the dynamic and traditional testing models on reading placement levels of Chapter I students. Finds that students have a wider range of functioning in reading than traditional placement indicates. Concludes that teachers can place students more accurately by using the dynamic model. (PRA)

Characteristics of children (n=296) referred to a psychiatric outpatient facility for evaluation of behavioral and school-learning problems were compared to classroom placement recommendations made by a school interdisciplinary team. Results indicate general trends in the relationship between placement options and the incidence and severity of…

The responses of two experts in the field of visually impaired education to a recent council position paper address aspects of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, alternative placements, local school district versus residential school placement, supportive integration, and a rationale for the maintenance of both special and regular…