PROGRESS DURING THE FIRST YEAR OF THE OAKLEAF PROJECT, AN INDIVIDUALIZED INSTRUCTIONAL PROGRAM FOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS, WAS SUMMARIZED IN THIS INTERIM REPORT. THE OAKLAND ELEMENTARY SCHOOL IN SUBURBAN PITTSBURGH WAS USED AS THE PROJECT LABORATORY FOR PRODUCING A CURRICULUM IN AN EDUCATIONAL ENVIRONMENT WHICH WOULD BE RESPONSIVE TO…

This paper examines current issues in Taiwan in the transition of individuals with disabilities from school to work within the context of two laws passed in 1997 (the Special Education Act of 1997 and the Protection Act for Individuals with Disabilities of 1997). These laws are intended to secure for people with disabilities the right to…

This guidebook is intended to assist the transition of Colorado students with developmental disabilities from school to post-school activities by promoting flexible and collaborative planning and service delivery among community-centered boards (CCBs), local education agencies, and other state and community agencies. First, a definition of…

This guide to planning for transition from school to work for middle school or high school students with disabilities in California is intended to assist parents, teachers, and other service providers in coordinating person-centered transition planning and services. The first section examines requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities…

This study focuses on the progress of six middle schoolers in the St. Louis public schools who had been placed in 6th grade even though they had only first grade-level reading skills. It seeks to answer the following question: What effect will the use of Reading Recovery techniques and individualized reading strategies have on middle school…

A study evaluated the effectiveness of a residential program, based on the TEACCH model, in improving the program quality and adaptation of 32 adolescents and adults with autism and severe disabilities. Participants experienced an increase in structure and individualized programming in several areas, and the families were significantly more…

Presents a historical overview of state and federal legislation concerning special education, describes how court litigation has defined the constitutional rights of the disabled to access education, and outlines the provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The procedural safeguards of the IDEA also are outlined,…

This article provides a case study (an eighth-grader with autism) within a case study (an urban middle school) in terms of the implementation of positive behavioral support (PBS). Information is provided on the characteristics of three key components of schoolwide PBS, universal support, group support, and individual support. (Contains…

Despite federal regulations requiring measurable individualized education programs (IEPs), IEPs are often vague and unfocused, making them difficult to use in guiding instructional planning. Although a well-written IEP can be time consuming and labor intensive, a clearly written IEP, based on documented student needs, can and should be a guidepost…

This article examines findings on student perceptions of individual interventions based on the principles of universal design for learning (UDL). The examination includes a comparison of the reported perceptions of mainstreamed students with high incidence disabilities (i.e., learning disabilities, behavioral disorders, or other health impairments…

Alternate assessments are the means through which students with significant cognitive disabilities participate in accountability testing, thus measurement validity of alternate assessments is a critical aspect of state educational accountability systems. When evaluating the validity of assessment systems, it is important to take a broad view of…

New Jersey lawmakers recently changed state law to require schools to bear the burden of proving, if there is a dispute with parents, that the educational plans they create for students with disabilities are appropriate. The state's action, which follows a similar move by New York state in August, is considered a success by parents and advocacy…

Four elementary students referred for special education evaluation were observed systematically for 2 entire days each at three different times within the referral-to-placement process. Data were recorded on 53 variables within six categories in 10 second intervals to examine changes in the nature of instruction and academic responding time as a…

The manual was intended to clarify the relationship among annual goals, short-term instructional objectives and performance objectives for special education students in Michigan. An overview of state and federal requirements is followed by analysis of the annual goals (general statements relating to a skill area without specific reference to…

The individualistic enterprise of education is questioned in this paper. The scientific movement in education in collaboration with private corporations and federal funding has fostered an individualistic enterprise that promotes a restricted role of the individual in society. Three well-known individualization projects are Individually Guided…