Presents a way to frame individualized education plan (IEP) meetings using the concept of self-organizing systems, which can produce novel outputs from dynamic interaction among system components. Identifies components of an IEP system, their complex nature, and responsiveness to impacts and suggests ways to improve meeting outputs. (SK)

Addresses legislation related to special needs students and provides a conceptual/theoretical framework for including them in technology education classes. Discusses categories of students, individualized educational plans, modifications and accommodations, and the implications for teacher education. Contains 12 references. (JOW)

Understanding facilitative aspects of power is necessary for analyzing processes and outcomes in today's schools. Facilitative, interactive power has become commonplace when no single individual or role commands decision-making control without dependence on expert knowledge and collegial cooperation. Examples include individualized educational…

Investigates the existence of an identifiable core cognitive curriculum operative in early intervention programs as revealed in the developmental inventories used to assess students and in Individual Educational Program (IEP) objectives. Discusses the substance and suitability of this curriculum for developmentally disabled preschoolers. Questions…

Discusses the three major developments in the revised Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA): general-education teachers participating in individualized education programs, school flexibility in disciplining special-needs students, and emphasis on integrating special-education students into general education. (JOW)

Discusses current emphasis on individualization and meeting Head Start Program Performance Standards in this area. Assessment of individual needs, evaluation of information and planning practices comprise the individual approach to learning. Documentation in the form of personalized lesson plans provides a record of health, safety, and nutrition…

The Individualized Educational Program (IEP) is the foundation of instruction for individuals with disabilities. Therefore, learning to write and attach meaning to these documents is critical for preservice teachers. This article explores an approach to teaching IEPs during teacher preparation, which encourages preservice teachers to view the IEP…

This study provides an analysis of case law concerning applied behavior analysis (ABA) for students with autism to determine outcome-related factors. The authors classified the 68 pertinent hearing/review officer and court decisions published in EHLR ("Education for Handicapped Law Report") and IDELR ("Individuals with Disabilities Education Law…

For years, Marilyn Arons, 67, has taught parents how to use the main federal special education law to get the most appropriate education for their children. And now, the role of experts such as Ms. Arons is at the center of a U.S. Supreme Court case that will be heard next week. The case, which began in 1997, involves New York state's Arlington…

This article advocates the use of a decision-making flowchart to help understand whether the proposed test alteration(s) is an accommodation or a modification. If the proposed alteration is not listed in state guidelines, the flowchart directs the IEP team to identify (a) the purpose of the test and (b) the consequences of the scores so that the…

Chris resides with his parents and attends school in an unnamed district ("the District"). During the second half of second grade, Chris started to have problems with reading and written expression. The District evaluated Chris and did not find problems significant enough to identify him as having a learning disability. At about the same time his…

The most salient difficulty in assessing English language learner (ELL) students who exhibit academic difficulties is identifying whether the problem is one of English proficiency or of a learning disability. In many cases, the symptoms are shared and difficult to disentangle, but obtaining a comprehensive picture of the child is vital for…

We explored parents' perceptions of their positive and negative experiences in school-based team meetings as a first step toward identifying the characteristics that may promote meaningful parent participation. Parent members of a Midwestern suburban school district's special education advisory group provided open-ended descriptions of their…

When K-12 school districts began implementing the first student information systems (SISs) during the 1990s, special education was largely left out of the process. The two systems evolved as separate entities, technologically speaking, and in the handling of individualized education programs (IEPs), paper remained the dominant storage medium long…

Two purposes are served by this guide: to allow school districts to examine their special education programs and related pupil personnel services, and to aid state departments of education in evaluating the nature, scope, and quality of school district offerings to handicapped students. The guide is divided into two parts: one provides forms for…