This final report describes activities and accomplishments of Project REALIGN, a three-year model inservice training project to expand the capacity of early childhood staff, administrators and families to work together toward improved education for all young children and maximizing the inclusion of young children with disabilities in the school…

In contrast to research models that allude to the deficiencies of children whose parents are characterized as at-risk, this literature review focuses on the potential achievements of these children. The review attempts to heighten awareness of the efforts of researchers to provide a theoretical basis for advancing programs that foster a positive…

As a student teacher who had just finished her teaching assignment at Old Dominion Middle School in central Virginia, the author was struck by differences in students' classroom and hallway behavior. Whereas students were calm and respectful inside classrooms, they pushed, cursed, and ran in hallways while teachers looked on. Wondering why…

This collection of papers presented at a 1996 conference on children's mental health focuses on program evaluation efforts within states and systems of care. Individual papers have the following titles and authors: (1) "An Overview of State Public Mental Health Programs for Children with a Serious Emotional Disturbance" (Pamela C. Roddy); (2) "A…

Drawing on research on techniques for scaffolding in speech therapy for victims of Alzheimer's Disease, some considerations in determining appropriate scaffolding in speech therapist-client interactions at four levels of interaction (initial, those involving early language activities, discourse interactions, and turn-taking) are discussed.…

Support for primary-age, at-risk children is examined in the context of renewed national interest in intervention programs for this population. This report describes alternative approaches to identifying characteristics of at-risk students and then presents a summary of states' definitions of "handicapped" or "disadvantaged."…

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…

Three early educational intervention programs designed to prevent mental retardation and to improve school readiness are profiled. The Abecedarian Project was begun as an experiment to test whether mental retardation, allegedly caused by inadequate environments, could be prevented by providing intensive preschool programs to children from birth to…

The effectiveness of students' evaluations of teaching effectiveness (SETs) as a means of enhancing university teaching was studied, with emphasis on the multidimensionality of SETs, an Australian version of the Students' Evaluations of Educational Quality instrument (the ASEEQ), and the 1986 feedback/consultation intervention of R. C. Wilson.…

This fact sheet on Down Syndrome is offered in both English and Spanish. First it provides a definition and description of this syndrome, noting its etiology in a chromosomal abnormality. Incidence figures are then given. Typical characteristics of people with Down Syndrome are listed. Commonly associated health-related problems are noted,…

This revised curriculum is designed to provide intervention strategies for both professionals and paraprofessionals to use with children with disabilities who are functioning in the birth to 24-month developmental range. The curriculum is based on normal sequences of development but does not assume even development across domains. The curriculum…

A hearing before the U.S. Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources examined the need for provision of comprehensive services to youth. Topics discussed included: (1) the provision of coordinated social services to students and families in schools; (2) school readiness; (3) dropout prevention; (4) improved school achievement; (5) drug- and…

When newly trained special education teachers begin working with infants and young children in early intervention programs, they find themselves also having to work extensively with parents. Teachers may expect all parents to become partners with them in teaching their children, and teachers often become upset or frustrated when parents fail to…

The relation between simulation activities and the attitudes of preschoolers without handicaps toward handicapped peers was examined. For 7 weeks, simulation activities were conducted once a week for 45 minutes with 13 nursery school/kindergarten students assigned to an experimental group. Subjects were asked to name three name-calling adjectives…

This report provides background information and summarizes a 1990 seminar on the parent/professional partnership in the implementation of Public Law 99-457. Topics considered in the seminar included eligibility under Part H of the law, early intervention prior to P.L. 99-457, the process of the legislation, future of the legislation, timing of…