Provides an overview of litigation in which courts have addressed the extent to which costs can be considered in determining appropriate programs for children with disabilities. (MLF)

Describes a national study of the current availability and use of commercially and institutionally developed educational assessment instruments. Indicates that two-year institutions reported less activity than four-year institutions in assessing the major fields of study but that 77% of all two-year institutions assessed basic skills. (MAB)

National trends and issues that concern gifted education are considered, focusing on the relationships among regular education, early childhood education, and education of young children who are gifted. Specific topics include: whole language and emergent literacy, whole group instruction and flexible grouping, cooperative learning, and…

Concepts of adaptive testing and the related measurement model, item response theory, are introduced and benefits and limitations are outlined. Field tests with over 2,500 students illustrate the use of adaptive tests in college placement. Some future directions for computerized adaptive testing are considered. (SLD)

Records of 250 children and adolescents admitted to a psychiatric hospital were grouped according to their educational status prior to admission as follows: nondisabled students (46%), students with serious emotional disturbance (36%), and students with other disabilities (18%). Differences among the three groups were found on gender, psychiatric…

This commentary offers authors' reflections on their case-study approach to examining the application of categorical and noncategorical special education (EC 612 095). The reflections address why the authors decided to study this issue, how case study methodology assisted in the study, and implications of the study. (SW)

Surveys of student teacher field placement practices in the United States and Canada reveal that colleges in both countries highly value the preparation of cooperating teachers and placement of groups of student teachers in the same school. However, Canadian institutions place greater value on collaborative strategies, while U.S. institutions…

This article identifies features of a culturally inclusive approach to assessment, placement, and instruction for students with severe disabilities. Culturally inclusive ways to build relationships with families are suggested, along with a research agenda and multicultural emphasis in personnel preparation programs, with a focus on process rather…

Discusses integration of students with severe disabilities, noting that programing is superior in integrated settings as illustrated by students' Individualized Education Programs. Various assessment tools help determine the extent to which best practices are being adhered to while attending to the individualized programing needs of students with…

This study, which explored the feasibility of using extant national data to study implementation of special education programs, examined the relationships between (1) state-level fiscal and demographic variables, and (2) identification rates and cumulative placement rates for certain categories of special education students in 1976, 1980, and…

This article describes an intraschool consultation model for meeting the transition needs of elementary school special education students moving on to secondary school. Model components include providing staff with a communication vehicle and implementing pretransition programs. A checklist of modified methods of instruction and evaluation that…

Argues that a hegemonic ideology of superiority in the schools perpetuates the oppression of African Americans. African Americans can overcome this ideology by using their consciousness of social injustice to correct these lies and to construct new institutions that reflect self-definitions of African Americans. (SLD)

This study compared 16 students with either a less or more severe disability from elementary schools using the "full inclusion" model and 16 similar students from schools using the special class model. The study analyzed individualized education plans and also compared program quality and student outcome variables. Significant…

This current response to a reprinted 1968 article by Ray Barsch (EC 602 662) focuses on legal aspects of learning disabilities, especially problems in implementing IDEA (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and continuing controversies concerning definition, evaluation, instructional intervention, and placement or service delivery…

Tennessee data were analyzed for four years before and five years after the funding formula for special education was changed from a "flat" rate to a "weighted" formula. The weighted formula was associated with a statistically significant decrease in less restrictive placements and a reliable increase in more restrictive…