The Connecticut State Legislature has adopted sweeping telecommunications legislation that will enhance distance education in the state through cable television and telecommunications technologies. This legislation eradicates the delimitation on cable operators of one-way transmission of cable signals and removes the primary statutory restriction…

This book considers legal questions, theoretical issues, and practical methods for meeting the assessment needs of students with disabilities. It is comprised of ten chapters and includes test accommodation topics relating to federal and state regulations (including the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997), problems…

This staff brief is designed to help policymakers make recommendations for the improvement in educational and related services provided to visually impaired children and adults in the state by public school districts, the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped (WSVH), and other educational agencies. Part 1 provides a brief overview of…

This publication is the result of a series of meetings convened to explore options for broadcast regulation in the digital era. The report offers a crucial context for these issues and aims to contribute to a greater understanding of the legal, constitutional, economic, political, and other issues surrounding the debate. The first section deals…

These two technical assistance papers are designed to provide further clarification to Florida school districts regarding the evaluation procedures and determination of eligibility for children with disabilities in transition from the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), Part C, Infants and Toddlers Early Intervention Program to the…

The Florida Education Governance Reorganization Transition Task Force was established to recommend a structure as well as an accountability process for a seamless K-20 educational system for the state. In September 2000, the State Board of Community Colleges (SBCC) decided to survey its members, the presidents, and the local trustees of the 28…

Alternative schools have emerged over the years as one educational option for students who are not successful in traditional school settings. The number of these schools is growing rapidly, yet we know very little about similarities in policy and practice across states. This report provides a list and review of current state legislation and policy…

The creation of publicly financed but relatively independent public charter schools may be the most vibrant force in American education today. This fastback presents findings of a national study that examined the outcomes of charter schools. Data were collected through site visits to 43 charter schools in 7 states (Arizona, California, Colorado,…

Designed to guide and structure the needs assessment of Pennsylvania children with special health care needs, this document describes six specific steps in planning and conducting a needs assessment. The steps include: (1) stating the goals of the needs assessment, including fulfilling legislative mandates, identifying geographical areas that have…

This document provides an annotated bibliography of Commonwealth (formerly the British Commonwealth) university management functions. Selection criteria included the following: items had to be practical and designed to support institutional management, be applicable to most Commonwealth higher education systems, and wherever possible be available…

This briefing paper summarizes survey data collected from 42 state education agencies (SEAs) on the topic of personnel to support the education of children and youth with deafblindness. A variety of topics are covered including state and regional consultants, the use of paraeducators, state regulations and guidelines, and the involvement of…

This guide is intended to offer suggestions for enhancing educational opportunities for young children in Iowa with special needs in the least restrictive environment (LRE) as required by both state and federal law in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act as amended in 1997 (IDEA 97). Emphasis is on IDEA 97's definition and…

This report examines the extent to which proposals to decentralize public education can be implemented by individuals, groups, or institutions prepared to operate charter schools. Charter schools must be able to balance autonomy for decisions relating to educational programs and accountability with academic standards and market forces.…

This document is designed to provide guidance to Illinois school administrators on positive behavioral interventions with students with disabilities. It begins with a description of the Illinois statute addressing behavioral interventions and then provides information on district policy guidelines on establishing and maintaining a committee to…

This report is a compilation of information collected from a searchable database on the testing accommodations that are most often allowed for students with disabilities in state policies. These ten accommodations include: (1) Braille edition of the test; (2) computer/machine response; (3) dictate response to a scribe; (4) extended time; (5)…