Curriculum beliefs and practices were surveyed with 341 Colorado elementary and secondary special education teachers. Findings include: training in curriculum development occurs mostly on the job; teachers want training in teaching compensatory and life skills; teachers believe that individualized education plans constitute the curriculum for…

Directors of gifted and talented programs in 38 states responded to a Gifted Practices Survey. The survey addressed identification, evaluation methods, definitions, role of the regular classroom teacher, certification programs, and the history of providing services and special funding. Findings suggest that states appear to be engaging in expected…

Key points in the articles of this issue are discussed and preliminary criteria for school-linked service efforts are reviewed. Six critical issues requiring additional attention in implementing school-linked services are the following: (1) systemic change; (2) targeting; (3) financing; (4) evaluation; (5) state and federal leadership; and (6)…

The current tripartite system of human services delivery (education, health, and social services) is unable to deal with children with multiple problems in an effective, coordinated way due to fragmentation, specialization, and complexity. Reorganizing the current system by linking or integrating services could provide many advantages, as…

Evaluates the first two years of a local welfare reform demonstration, the Family Development Center (FDC), in Baltimore (Maryland). This quasi-experimental study found the FDC successful in programs designed to increase labor market participation and earnings. FDC participants experienced increases in educational aspirations, self-esteem, and…

Summarizes the private health insurance market, focusing on recent trends. Efforts should be made to preserve the current private health insurance system through comprehensive reforms that reduce cost and shift from public programs; control costs by competition, managed care, and global spending limits; and guarantee coverage for all groups. (SLD)

This paper argues that present service delivery models for Chapter 1 students have questionable effectiveness and calls for collaborative consultation between teachers of Chapter 1 and regular programs to better serve this population of at-risk students. This system change requires defining collaborative consultation, developing a collaborative…

Describes an Africentric model for training psychologists who deliver Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) education, prevention, and services within the African-American community. Principles of the NTU philosophy (a Bantu concept) and Nguzo Saba were used in training 75 African-American psychologists to deliver prevention services. (SLD)

Discusses ways schools must restructure to provide school-linked services. Education personnel must learn to work with other agencies and to expand the boundaries of their efforts. Practical implications of school-linked services are illustrated via reference to the New Beginnings program of the San Diego (California) city schools. (SLD)

The mental health resources available in American Indian communities fall far short of the demonstrated need, especially for Native American adolescents. The Indian Health Care Amendments of 1990 and 1992 are reviewed, and recommendations are made to facilitate community-based programs for American Indians. (SLD)

Issues are discussed in the transition of students with learning disabilities from high school to employment or postsecondary education, focusing on the importance of providing instructional and counseling services to help students become self-sufficient, independent thinkers who can self-advocate and be responsible for their actions. (Author/JDD)

Resource room teachers (n=878) indicated their extent of use of 19 strategies associated with promoting the success of mainstreamed handicapped students and indicated barriers to effective service delivery. Teachers attached a high degree of importance to use of the strategies, but reported only moderate use. (Author/JDD)

A survey was conducted of 193 directors of agencies providing home visits as part of early intervention programs for infants and toddlers with disabilities. Findings indicated limited coordination with hospitals, medical specialists, and mental health services; insufficient compensation for service coordination efforts; and state support to…

Explores the educational innovations that are dependent on new technologies and the current thinking on potential changes in delivery of educational services in higher education; assesses their impact on planning an existing or new/satellite campus; and proposes a model to allow for self-paced computer learning, distance learning, computer-driven…

As part of a statewide pilot program, Florida schools are implementing instructional delivery systems to mainstream more students with disabilities and develop more special/general educator partnerships. Effective coteaching models have common planning time, flexibility, risk-taking, defined roles and responsibilities, compatibility, communication…