This document presents the State of Michigan's administrative rules for special education including 1996 and 1997 revisions. The specific regulations are organized into 9 sections: (1) general provisions (definitions and determination standards); (2) evaluation, eligibility, student assignment, and due process procedures (e.g., individualized…

This booklet, for parents of children with disabilities in Colorado, outlines the rights guaranteed to parents under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as amended in 1997. An introduction provides space for identifying a local contact person and notes the need to translate this information for parents whose language is other than…

Drawing from an analysis of the literature on student attrition and retention at community colleges, this paper presents a typology of retention strategies as a structure by which further research can advance. Introductory material explains the typology, which categorizes retention strategies according to whether their purposes are to: (1) sort…

A study was conducted at Riverside Community College in California to evaluate by ethnic group the enrollment behavior and academic achievement of first-year students who completed assessment testing and were recommended for placement in a pre-college-level writing course. The study sample included the two cohorts of students who enrolled at the…

This monograph presents an overview of the current status of programs for students with serious emotional disturbances in California and makes recommendations for program improvements. An introductory chapter summarizes important themes including screening, prevention, and early intervention; definitions; eligibility issues; assessment;…

In an effort to determine the validity of placement tests used at Rancho Santiago College (Santa Ana, California), for placing students into mathematics courses, a study was conducted comparing the course performance of students who met test cut-off scores ("eligible" to take the course) with students who did not meet the cut-off scores…

This guide is designed to enable the beginner, as well as the advanced user, to understand and use the Computerized Placement Management Software (CPMS). The CPMS is a system for evaluating information about students and recommending their placement into courses best suited for them. It also tracks their progress and maintains their records. The…

This document includes a selection of materials from the National Coalition of Education Activists (NCEA) on tracking and ability grouping designed to be a tool for teachers who wish to organize their school or district against tracking. The packet contains a cover letter, a response/feedback form, and reproductions of the following articles: (1)…

This paper focuses on the secondary school experiences of Hispanic students with disabilities, presenting findings from the National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS) of Special Education Students. The 5-year NLTS study included data on more than 8,000 students (of whom 733 were Hispanic) enrolled in special education in the 1985-86 school…

This publication is intended to provide Texas educators with a ready reference concerning Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, a chart comparing this statute with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), practical suggestions for implementing the statute, and the federal regulations and analysis. The first section presents…

In 1989, a research project was initiated at Sacramento City College (SCC) to conduct a retrospective analysis of a sample of 400 continuing and entering students enrolled at SCC during fall 1987. The purpose of the study was to examine the relationship between academic success, basic skills assessment test scores and recommended placement levels,…

The issue of test-item selection in support of decision making in adaptive testing is considered. The number of items needed to make a decision is compared for two approaches: selecting items from an item pool that are most informative at the decision point or selecting items that are most informative at the examinee's ability level. The first…

This paper explores the feasibility of neural computing methods such as artificial neural networks (ANNs) and abductory induction mechanisms (AIM) for use in educational measurement. ANNs and AIMS methods are contrasted with more traditional statistical techniques, such as multiple regression and discriminant function analyses, for making…

This issue of a quarterly publication for school principals discusses the role of principals in providing inclusive education for all students, including those with disabilities. It offers practical information on the following topics: goals in meeting the needs of special education students; effective principal behaviors in leading special…

This report presents results of a study describing current state policies and practices to minimize or reduce inappropriate placements of minority students in special education. States were surveyed to obtain information about changes in their procedures for collecting data by race/ethnicity and their procedures to monitor local districts where…