In a 3-year longitudinal study, the authors examined the effect of Direct Instruction (DI) on students' reading achievement, teacher perceptions, nature of the classroom, and special education referral rate. Urban and suburban students completed the Gates-MacGinitie Reading Tests in the fall of Grade 1 and spring of Grades 1, 2, and 3. Teachers…

We examined factors predicting severity of first offense, adjudication, incarceration, and repeat offenses for first time juvenile offenders. The sample consisted of 12,468 juveniles, all born in 1985. Each of the juveniles had been assigned to the South Carolina Juvenile Justice System (SCDJJ) on at least one occasion ("referral"). Analysis on…

The report submitted by the President's Commission on Excellence in Special Education includes faulty claims and reasoning that devalue special education and hinder efforts to better meet the needs of students with disabilities. We question the commission's findings and recommendations regarding closing the achievement gap, practicing prevention,…

Purpose: This study examined age and contextually related factors that are influential in lay referral patterns during cardiac treatment decision making. Design and Methods: A complementary design was used. The Myocardial Infarction (MI) Onset Study identified demographic correlates of who sought medical care for 1,388 MI (heart attack) survivors.…

Universal measures of school functioning/impairment (i.e., grade point average, subject failures, absenteeism, disciplinary referrals/suspensions) were examined over the course of 1 school year for a cohort of 89 special education students classified as having emotional disturbance (ED) who were taught in a unique public school program. On average…

Background: The UK is a multicultural, multilingual society and the majority of paediatric speech and language therapists in England have at least one bilingual child on their caseload. There are many imperatives driving the profession to provide an equitable service for bilingual children. Evidence is beginning to emerge, however, that bilingual…

An Internet tool for monitoring, personalized feedback and referral was developed to support routine adolescent preventive care and was compared with usual practice using paper and pencil (P&P). A total of 1071 students (average age 15 years) from seven secondary schools were randomly assigned to the Internet or P&P group. The Internet group…

This practicum developed a program to expand school psychology services for regular education students at the elementary and middle school levels in an urban public school district. The main goals were to broaden school psychology services and increase awareness of the consultant role which may be provided by the school psychologist. Specific…

This report reviews current state policy and practices in the disciplining of students with disabilities, as they are expressed in state documents including statutes, regulations, and other types of written records. Federal law, regulations, and case law are summarized in the report's introduction and background. Findings are presented in terms of…

This report summarizes some of the key findings of a survey of the Connecticut public that was conducted as part of the Year of the Library Project by the Institute for Social Inquiry at the University of Connecticut. The purpose of the study was to explore public attitudes that might be relevant to improve and broaden use of library services. The…

The forms and materials included in this document were developed to meet Oregon regulations for early intervention for children with special needs from birth to age 3. The forms and directions are organized in chronological order from the referral of a child through the development of the child's individual family service plan, and, after…

This report responds to a North Dakota legislative mandate to study the state's early childhood tracking system for children who are at risk for developmental delays. Introductory sections summarize critical definitions and relevant federal legislation (specifically Part H of Public Law 99-457). The North Dakota program is then reviewed. Nineteen…

A study compared the effectiveness and cost of the New York Department of Labor's (NYDOL) major programs with those aspects of similar programs operated by the other 49 states, District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. It reviewed NYDOL records, interviewed NYDOL managers, analyzed data from the U.S. DOL, and contacted officials in some other states.…

Current issues involved in the identification and assessment of Limited-English-Proficient (LEP) students being considered for special services are reviewed. Focus is on the characteristics of the at-risk LEP students, who are often placed in special education programs. A theoretical framework to guide research and practice in this field is…

This guidebook discusses the California Child Care Initiative (CCCI), adopted by the state legislature in 1985 to address the shortage of licensed, quality child care in California. Funded by a public-private partnership of 33 organizations, the CCCI was designed to recruit, train, and support new family day care providers in communities…