Responses from a national survey (Education in the Middle Grades) from 1,753 principals in schools teaching grade 7 highlight the effects of the following practices believed to be responsive to adolescent needs: (1) interdisciplinary teacher teams; (2) group advisory periods; (3) remedial instruction programs; and (4) school transition programs.…

This study interviewed 50 Canadian deaf adults concerning their observations and experiences as former students in mainstreamed schools and their transition to adult life. Results are summarized for six areas: (1) support services, (2) transition into adult education, (3) transition into the world of work, (4) socialization or alienation, (5)…

Examines definitions of inclusion, mainstreaming, and integration, focusing on developments within the United States. Reviews legislation leading to inclusion, the debate about use of inclusion in early-childhood special education, and the rationale and research supporting inclusion. Describes factors necessary for successful inclusion, including…

Examines the educational policies and recent legislation concerning special education students in countries belonging to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD). The OECD consists mostly of Western industrialized nations and Japan. Includes an overview of programs and resources, as well as several tables of statistical…

Los Angeles Trade Technical College and the Los Angeles Unified School District have collaborated in several ways to help ethnically diverse, urban school children prepare for and make the transition to college. Document describes collaboration details, including customized academic and vocational partnerships, outreach efforts and college…

The John F. Kennedy Memorial Library at California State University, Los Angeles (CSULA), collaborated with the CSULA Student Support Program and the Educational Opportunity Program in an innovative attempt to increase visibility and use of library resources and services by at-risk students enrolled in the 2005 Summer Bridge Program. Workshops…

The present study is a longitudinal examination of family-school communication in preschool and kindergarten. Preschool and kindergarten teachers and family workers of 75 children from families with low SES logged the frequency and characteristics of family-school communication, resulting in over 22,000 contacts. Data were collected during a…

Pathways to Prevention is a developmental prevention project focused on the transition to school in a disadvantaged multicultural urban area in Queensland. The project incorporates two elements: The Preschool Intervention Program (PIP) promotes communication and social skills related to school success; and the Family Independence Program (FIP)…

This study aimed to examine views, concerns and expectations of immigrant Bangladeshi parents and children in Sydney concerning transition to kindergarten (the first year of school). This study builds on the previous work of the Starting School Research Project at the University of Western Sydney by: (1) deriving data from families and children…

As the focus on school improvement at a state education agency moves from mostly a compliance approach to playing a greater role in capacity building, the agency's leadership needs to rethink student and learning supports. That is the focus of this report. Given that almost half of the chief state school officers have assumed their position in the…

Students around the globe have unique first-year experiences but struggle with many of the same challenges. This monograph focuses on their journeys and provides insights for educators interested in learning about how institutions across the globe provide supports to students dealing with first-year transition issues. Based on the successful…

A California elementary school teacher discusses the school-wide transitional bilingual education (TBE) program in her school, the problems associated with it, and her participation in an initiative to promote English language instruction for language minority populations. The institutional context of the TBE program, demographic changes that…

This report describes activities and accomplishments of the Washington State Services for Children with Deaf-Blindness 3-year, federally supported program to provide technical assistance and training to families and service providers of approximately 140 children with deaf-blindness. Specific outcomes are listed for each of the project's 11…

Needs of Idaho residents with developmental disabilities are reported, based on focus group discussions involving the individuals themselves, parents, friends and family members, and service providers. Focus group discussions dealt with empowerment, education, transportation, employment, housing, inclusion in all aspects of community life, family…

This paper examines how various elements of five early- childhood-to-elementary school transition programs are being developed and carried out. Five transition programs were identified and investigated in regard to shared leadership and decisionmaking among stakeholders, comprehensive and integrated services, family involvement and empowerment,…