The survey of foreign language testing described in this paper resulted in the issuing of three handbooks and a special validation report, encompassing the results of research, consultation with professional committees, and significant position statements in four major areas of foreign language testing: placement of incoming students in foreign…

Contents of these hearings include the following: (1) the testimony and prepared statements of Dr. Mark Lohman, assistant professor, School of Education, University of California, Riverside; (2) "On the road to educational failure: a lawyer's guide to tracking,"--Em Hall, reprinted from "Inequality in Education," No. 5, Harvard Center for Law and…

Defines multicultural education and its goals. Matches multicultural learning options with related areas of the affective and cognitive instructional environment. Identifies educational structures and processes that need modification in order to achieve the goals of multicultural education (e.g., institutional philosophy/norms; staff…

Reports on a pilot program for developmental placement in Brevard County, Florida. Discusses various aspects of the program, including teacher education, student screening, parent involvement, cost, and program evaluation. Asserts that developmental placement aids students' academic progress. (MM)

Two Toronto community English-as-a-second-language (ESL) programs used oral interview tests to place adults in appropriate programs. Instruments used included: Foreign Service Oral Interview; Ilyin Oral Interview; object-oriented testing; group testing; performance in authentic situations; Ontario Test of English as a Second Language; and George…

This paper presents the findings of a qualitative, instrumental case study that examined students' academic preparedness, as well as assessment and placement policy in 15 community colleges in 6 states across the country. Although most community colleges mandate basic skills assessment for all entering freshmen, many do not require low-scoring…

This study investigated the lives of adolescents with and without disabilities in nine high schools in urban, suburban, and rural areas in Kansas, Washington, Oregon, and California. It gathered information on key contextual factors and realities that adolescents confront throughout the day. In this investigation, 53 ninth-grade high school…

In response to California Legislation that would change the cut-off for the minimum 5-year entrance age from December 2 to September 1, this paper reviews the literature discussing the appropriate age for beginning school. The review includes a brief history of kindergarten and its place in California law; discusses the possible impact of the…

A study examined employer involvement in the school-to-work (STW) internship strategy by comparing characteristics of participating employers to a sample of nonparticipants. The five STW programs chosen for study were ones in which students spent a significant amount of time in work-based learning outside the classroom. A telephone survey gathered…

This report describes and evaluates the La Grange (Illinois) Area Department of Special Education (LADSE) network for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). It also presents a curriculum guide for applying the wraparound approach in schools. The LADSE EBD network is based on three levels of support: special classroom, supported…

This document is the report of a policy forum on interim alternative educational settings for students with disabilities involved in disciplinary actions. The report summarizes outcomes of discussions on the following topics: (1) purpose and goals of the interim alternative educational setting; (2) components of interim alternative educational…

Described in this pamphlet are Colorado parents' educational rights under federal and state special education rules and regulations. It addresses: (1) free appropriate public education and the termination of such; (2) required prior notice to parents if there is a proposed change or refusal to change a child's special education program; (3)…

This Digest discusses provisions in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that require functional behavioral assessments (FBAs) and behavioral intervention plans (BIPs) to be conducted prior to a change in placement or suspension for more than 10 days, based on inappropriate behaviors for students with disabilities. It presents…

This manual discusses the characteristics of students with nonverbal learning disorders (NLD) and provides strategies to help students with NLD in the home and classroom environment. It begins by describing the symptoms of NLD, including lack of coordination, faulty spatial perceptions, lack of ability to comprehend nonverbal communication,…

Intended for parents of gifted children, this book, in Spanish, stresses the importance of positive relationships between parents and teachers as they work to meet children's academic, emotional, and social needs. Individual chapters address the following topics: (1) parenting the gifted child as a wild roller coaster ride; (2) determining whether…