This paper addresses conditions in teacher preparation which increase the chances of student teachers experiencing severe difficulty in their practicum assignments. Focus is on practical and ethical issues, offering suggestions for changing some present programmatic conditions in order to achieve optimal development of beginning teachers. Emphasis…

This document is a compilation of background readings for the user of Computerized Placement Tests (CPTs) developed by the College Board for student placement purposes. CPTs are computerized adaptive tests that test the individual abilities and backgrounds of examinees. CPTs are part of the ACCUPLACER student information management system. The…

This information packet was produced as part of outreach activities of Project STEPS (Sequenced Transition to Education in the Public Schools) which was created to develop an early childhood transition model for young children with disabilities. The model is intended to assist state and local agencies and covers four major component areas of…

The relatively large number of students who perform poorly in freshman chemistry courses signals the need for the identification of criteria that will result in correct placement decisions for incoming college students. Research findings have generally reported placement criteria that correlate significantly with performance in college chemistry…

This compilation presents five papers on issues and research in special education. "Qualitative Research in Special Education: An Evaluative Review" (Charles A. Peck and Gail C. Furman) explicates some of the epistemological assumptions underlying qualitative research methods, reviews examples of qualitative research, evaluates the contributions…

This bibliography listing references in the area of special education finance was developed by means of computerized bibliographic searches, nominations from leading special educators, and citation searches. References are first grouped into topical mini-bibliographies on the following subjects: cost analysis methodologies; special education cost…

Part of an effort to demonstrate performance outcomes at Miami-Dade Community College (M-DCC), in Florida, this report provides data on enrollment, completions, and job placements for Associate in Science (AS) graduates at the college from 1984-85 through 1992-93. The first section discusses program review at M-DCC, indicating that a program is…

The numbers of culturally and linguistically diverse students in classrooms at all levels of study are increasing dramatically. In addition, the available information indicates that in general they are not performing well scholastically. Five articles address this issue; they are remarks from a 1992 symposium of members from the Teachers of…

This guide contains descriptive and evaluative information on 47 major commercially-available English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) tests in current use around the world. For each test, the following information is provided: complete title; acronym; publication date; targeted audience; intended purpose; scoring method; administration type (group or…

This policy brief discusses how certain types of state funding provisions create fiscal incentives for more restrictive placements for students with disabilities. This most likely occurs when funding systems are tied to the location in which the services are provided and a more restrictive placement will generate more state aid in relation to…

This manual incorporates the Delaware State Board of Education's rules and regulations governing the education of exceptional children and is intended to provide guidance and information to educators, administrators, parents, and the public. The section on handicapped children covers the following areas: access to special education and related…

This document consists of 10 issues of a workplace and job-skills information newsletter specifically designed for adult education program practitioners and their students. A report preceding the newsletters notes that the 1990-91 newsletters were issued to 2,200 program administrators, directors, counselors, volunteers, and their students.…

This guide to the transition of special education students to less restrictive environments or from school to work stresses the importance of planning and communication during the entire process, from initial plans through implementation and follow-up. Section 1 consists of a "Transition Process Checklist" to aid in the organization and follow…

The Services for Transition to Independence through Education (STRIDE) project evaluated a model for providing comprehensive training and employment services to adults with mild handicaps, using existing vocational education classes and special needs support programs in a secondary vocational technical school in Altoona, Pennsylvania. Services…

The observable effects of curricular tracking were investigated for a cohort of students in six Vermont high schools during the years 1981-89. The outcome variable was persistence in school as predicted by grades in academic subjects from grade 4 through 9, or time of withdrawal, and the level of courses in which students were enrolled. Three…