A master's level program was developed by the University of South Dakota to train teachers to serve children with disabilities within the general school environment. Twenty-six leaders in special education and regular education, all practicing teachers, were selected to participate in the project and to serve as a core group in the statewide…

This paper reports a practicum which attempted to improve delivery of speech language services to children with speech language handicaps in two elementary schools without pulling students out of regular classes. The speech language pathologist (SLP) implemented a collaborative approach with regular teachers providing support in the areas of…

Cochlear implants have tremendous potential to aid profoundly deaf students in achieving competency in using spoken communication. Children with cochlear implants do not perceive sound in the same way as normal hearing individuals do, and realizing their potential requires long-term intensive instruction and the utilization of a multidisciplinary…

This proceedings contains summaries of 24 conference papers focusing on new directions in gifted education. Each paper's summary is about four pages in length. Papers have the following titles and authors: "Supporting Giftedness in Girls in the Classroom" (Julia Ellis); "A Community of Learners in ECS" (Anne Green);…

Since 1975, when a federal task force first recommended educating mildly and moderately disabled students in the regular classroom, support has grown for full inclusion of all students in the mainstream. West Feliciana Parish (Louisiana), a poor rural school district in which all students are designated at-risk, has successfully integrated all…

This paper is the first in a three-part series on the fiscal provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). It provides a brief overview, history, and related background information on the major federal special education funding programs, including basic state grants under Part B of the IDEA (which require participating…

This practicum was designed to provide speech and language therapy to children identified as speech and language impaired, in a Head Start classroom with typically developing peers. The practicum involved amending Head Start component plans, discussing inclusion issues at four education component meetings, conducting an interagency meeting with…

This study examined variations among Local Education Authorities (LEAs) in England in the levels of segregation of children with disabilities into special schools between the years 1982 and 1990. Major findings included the following: in 1990, English LEAs sent 1.58 percent of the school population to special schools; there were large differences…

This paper examines research and literature related to the education of Virginia students who are deaf or hearing impaired, blind or visually impaired, or multihandicapped. The paper discusses legal considerations such as least restrictive environment and other variables required to be considered when determining appropriate service delivery…

This practicum was designed to improve the delivery of special education services to all students with special needs in a rural Canadian school district. The goal was for teachers, as members of program planning teams, to design and implement individual program plans for exceptional students according to district special education policy…

This paper reviews the literature on mastery learning theory and reports its successful application since 1987 with mainstreamed special education students at one elementary school in Missouri. The methodology, originally developed by Benjamin Bloom, involves formative evaluation after initial instruction followed by either corrective activities…

The monograph describes the co-teaching program in the L'Anse Creuse (Michigan) public schools, implemented at Middle School South, in which regular and special education teachers are paired to provide academic support to mildly impaired middle-school special education students within the regular education classroom. The program currently includes…

Literature on the topic of preparing teachers for mainstreaming was reviewed, with focus on research and writings involving: (1) teacher attitudes toward mainstreaming; (2) teachers' expressed needs in regard to mainstreaming; (3) development of preservice education programs which provide a base of knowledge and experience in mainstreaming; (4)…

This guide is intended to help vocational teachers to manage student behavior, including that of students with handicaps and behavioral problems, in vocational educational laboratories. The guide is organized into three sections. The first section explains the different types of vocational laboratories (active and passive) and what types of…

In this study an observation schedule was developed and used to compare activities and behavior of 77 New Zealand children with disabilities who had been mainstreamed into special groups within preschools and play centers and 77 non-disabled peers. The development of the schedule is described, results are given, and advice is offered to…