This paper describes Williams syndrome, a rare genetic disorder that results in mental retardation. An overview of this condition is presented from the perspective of a family who traveled through the many stages of the disability from infancy to young adulthood. The etiology and characteristics of the disability are discussed, including…

This monograph discusses a project involving 246 teachers that investigated a Staff Development Model (SDM) and a Research-Based Assessment Plan (RAP) for their potential to improve the identification and education of gifted students from economically disadvantaged families, some of whom have limited proficiency in the English language. The…

The release of the first Student Outcomes and Achievement Report (SOAR) in 1994 by the Maryland Higher Education Commission revealed the degree to which the graduates of the state's high schools required remediation in higher education. SOAR suggested that at least one-half of all Maryland high school graduates entering the state's colleges and…

This is a transcript from a Joint Hearing of the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources and the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Education and the Workforce that addresses the U.S. Department of Education's development of regulations necessary to implement the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) Amendments of…

This paper attempts to determine whether increased levels of involvement among socially advantaged parents accounts for children's track placements. Research has shown that students of higher social classes have a greater advantage in attaining placement in elite math sequences. Data from the National Educational Longitudinal Survey (1988) was…

This study provides an evaluation of the national and state level educational environmental placement trends for students, ages 6-11 or 12-17, with learning disabilities (LD), emotional disabilities (ED), mental retardation (MR), or speech and language impairments (SLI) in the decade following implementation of the Regular Education Initiative…

Designed for parents, this brochure uses a car-trip analogy to describe special education services for students with disabilities. It addresses: (1) child find; (2) initial evaluation and eligibility determination; (3) categories of students who receive special education services and related services; (4) creating a home file to organize…

This annual report provides an overview of special education students and services in North Dakota and describes the programs, funding, and special projects for the 2000-2001 school year made available to special education units through Part B of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and state special education funds. A state summary,…

A follow-up study of 152 children enrolled in 66 urban schools was conducted at the end of the children's eighth year in school to determine any continuing influence of preschool experiences on later educational transitions. All children had attended both pre-kindergarten/Head Start and kindergarten prior to first grade entry. The sample was 97…

In this study, 28 K-12 educators and administrators were surveyed about their beliefs concerning the inclusion of students with special needs in the general education classroom. Participants were asked to respond to a survey that measured their beliefs about the implementation of inclusive learning and the academic and social implications of this…

This publication explains how some of the more significant 1999 regulations of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act will affect schools providing services to children in need of special education. The analysis tracks the regulatory format used to organize the rules under Title 34 of the Code of Federal Regulations. The selected…

This paper describes three main types of underprepared students: academically underprepared, emotionally underprepared, and culturally underprepared. The category that most faculty, counselors, and administrators tend to focus on is the academically underprepared. Remedial and student skills courses, free peer tutoring, and tutorials on videotapes…

This study addresses the placement of students in remedial education among community colleges in the United States. Of specific interest is the appropriate entry-level placement of students in math courses. Citing that traditional standardized placement tests are overly broad and thus of questionable value for placing community college students in…

This fact sheet provides answers to frequently asked questions about provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) relating to special education eligibility, Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and student placement. Specifically, information is provided on: (1) the purpose of the IDEA; (2) eligibility for services…