This article suggests that, because a hostile environment is associated with the development of mental and behavioral disorders, a restructuring of the schools to incorporate ongoing nurturing and academic training of younger students by older students would develop important psychological skills and thereby prevent mental and behavioral…

This paper addresses effective longitudinal technical assistance for professionals serving young children with challenging behaviors. Critical components of such assistance include identifying and training districtwide technical assistance teams, developing operating procedures, generating districtwide support, and evaluating team effectiveness.…

Describes the history and current status of the Head Start Program, which provides early basic education augmented with health check-ups and a daily hot meal. Suggests that the program should be expanded to serve all who are eligible for it, provide more full-day services, and assist children younger than age five. (MAB)

Recent criticisms of Project Head Start have resulted in plans to improve program services and to expand in a more thoughtful manner to make the program more responsive to the needs of children and families. New directions include expansion below and beyond the ages previously served by Head Start. (SLD)

Describes innovative school programs for students at risk for alcohol and other drug problems. Describes model programs in Puget Sound school districts as involving school, families, community agencies, and youth in efforts to create school environments free of substance abuse and violence. (Author/NB)

H.H. Spitz argues that interesting results from the preschool intervention of the Abecedarian Project continue to be disregarded. C.T. Ramey reiterates his earlier objections to Spitz's conclusions, and H.H. Spitz rejoins with specific objections to Ramey. (SLD)

This article reviews the literature on curriculum-based assessment (CBA) with students who have special education needs. Features of CBA common to various approaches and contributing most to its instructional effectiveness include teachers' evaluative attitudes and behaviors, focus and sustained attention on student performance, and facilitation…

Describes a school reintegration program aimed at overcoming the numerous psychological, physical, environmental, and family-based deterrents to school reentry for chronically ill children. The program uses a systems approach to children's mental health with an emphasis on multiple aspects of the child's environment (i.e., family, medical…

Provides an overview of research literature on gifted children and their families with an emphasis on the endogenous and exogenous factors that can create or exacerbate psychosocial problems. Describes current conceptualizations of giftedness. Suggests an eclectic, eco-systemic approach to three common concerns that bring gifted children and their…

Identifies six empirically and socially validated conversational behaviors that can serve as targets of interventions designed to increase social interaction among high school students with and without disabilities. Findings indicate that little social interaction occurs among these high school students in the absence of programming or support.…

Investigated taboos and beliefs about the nutritional value of foods among pregnant women from Nigeria's Hausa and Yoruba tribes. Found that Hausa women had greater nutritional anemia than Yoruba women; their babies had greater incidence of low birth weights and smaller chest and head measurements. Hausa women learned food-related beliefs from…

This introductory article describes following articles (EC 625 128-134) that address processes and issues related to offering care for children with swallowing disorders in the public school. Procedures for screening, assessing, and treatment, issues involved in establishing a dysphagia program in a school system, and legal and ethical issues are…

This article identifies three areas in early childhood special education which need further work: working with families to define social outcomes, expanding our definition of social behaviors and moving toward a framework based on social relationships, and developing interventions that are socially valid, ecologically valid, and sustainable across…

Evaluation of parent-directed, intensive early intervention using trained paraprofessional therapists with six children with pervasive developmental disorder found five children rapidly acquired skills when treatment began, but only two clearly improved on standardized tests at the 2-3 year follow-up. However, parents reported high satisfaction…

Investigates the effect of a school-based early mental health intervention program on school adjustment, using a wait-control design, for elementary grade students. The intervention was found to significantly lessen teachers' perception of student shyness, anxiety, and learning problems. It also increased perceived assertive social skills, task…