This resource guide provides practical advice, materials, and strategies designed to overcome the barriers that have interfered with successful placement of persons with disabilities in the workplace, especially women and girls. It is designed for use by educators interested in improving career preparation of students with disabilities. Section 1…

This report provides information about special education costs in Vermont and the effects of recent policy changes implemented through Vermont's Act 230 and special education reform efforts. The report begins by describing Vermont's funding formula for special education and explains how the formula is flexible, more equitable, and better able to…

This report explains phase two in the restructuring of the Montana University System. In this stage the process focuses on students rather than on the institution, and on the learning process and supporting activities. Four goals are established: (1) getting in, (2) getting through, (3) getting a job, and (4) "paying the way."…

This proceedings document provides the texts of 18 presentations given at a 3-day conference in 1993 which focused on policies, materials, programs, and activities being implemented in Alabama to foster the successful transition of youth with disabilities to adult life. First, four individuals with learning disabilities (Travis Moore, Kim…

As part of a project on assessing deep understanding of subject matter, a study was conducted to assess students' knowledge of history by focusing on essay writing. Reading a provided text was incorporated into the assessment procedure. Ratings from five high school history teachers were compared with those of four English teachers for 85 essays…

This chapter examines the rationale for and means of achieving effective collaboration in planning and delivering services to gifted and talented students. First, the historical and philosophical background of current emphases on increased collaboration are reviewed. The necessity of collaboration with general education professionals is stressed…

Written for adults with learning disabilities, this book is based on the premise that learning disabilities are not outgrown and thus adults need to learn practical strategies and coping mechanisms. Some of the topics addressed in the book are: what a learning disability (LD) is, terminology, inheritance of LD, kinds of LD, discovering the…

Practical difficulties in placing economics students and designing instructional materials in English as a Second Language at the University of Antwerp (Belgium), and techniques used for resolving these difficulties, are described. First-year students arrive with heterogeneous backgrounds because, unlike in other European countries, there is no…

A project was conducted in response to House Joint Resolution (HJR) 143 to determine the efficacy of Virginia public education institutions in preparing a skilled work force for the 21st century. It focused on complex manufacturing technology to identify and implement model procedures for studying other occupational areas. Information was obtained…

A project studied use of assessment of prior experiential learning (APEL) in admissions to part-time degrees and diplomas at the University of Kent at Canterbury (England, United Kingdom). The APEL course was highlighted in brochures advertising part-time degree, diploma, and Access courses. Interviews with 40 applicants explained APEL and…

The purpose of this study was to examine patterns with regard to six advanced high school mathematics courses 12th-grade students who took the American College Testing (ACT) assessment had taken between 1987 and 1997. Differences in performance on the ACT mathematics test were studied with respect to mathematics courses taken, gender,…

This report describes a 12-week practicum that was designed to decrease the number of special education referrals of at-risk kindergarten students for developmental delays in communication through a direct, in-class, social language program. The program was implemented in five kindergarten classrooms and used developmentally appropriate,…

A model workplace literacy program is described that was designed to upgrade the basic skills of adult workers and developed by El Paso Community College in partnership with J&J Register Company, a Texas division of Philips Industries with approximately 300 workers. Pre-assessment results indicated that about 95 percent of the workers had…

Following a 1984 study revealing the limited preparation of its entering college freshmen, the Tennessee Board of Regents (TBR) intervened dramatically on behalf of underprepared students, providing enhanced funding for remedial courses and requiring that students complete remediation before enrolling in any degree program. Based on their…

As is the case in many developing countries, Honduras's vocational training and job placement systems were plagued by high dropout and low job placement rates. After deciding that the issue of relevance was the key to improving the country's job training system, a trade advisory committee set about to develop a series of competency-based…