This article reviews historically the overrepresentation of Latino and African-American students in special education; examines the influence of court cases, debate about systemic issues, demographic and socioeconomic changes, the construction of minority students' school failure, and the fallacy of the cultural diversity-disability analogy; and…

This article provides a legal update on the issue of residential placements for students with disabilities and discusses practice considerations in light of national trends toward greater integration and curbing of rising costs through providing incentives for community-based programs. Practices in Virginia are used as an example. (DB)

Special education directors, special education teachers, and Indian education directors from 25 northern Minnesota rural school districts were surveyed concerning special education practices involving Native American students. Although most respondents were satisfied with the referral and placement process, Indian education directors expressed…

Kindergarten children (n=161) screened with the "Early Prevention of School Failure" (EPSF) measure were examined several years later. Students who had been retained, referred to special education, or placed in special education demonstrated significantly lower EPSF scores. The fine motor and auditory modalities were the most powerful…

This study examined whether school entrance age was related to academic and social performance and whether the proportion of students referred to various programs correlated with age. Older students received more referrals for gifted evaluation, younger students received more placements in pre-first grade, and boys received more referrals for…

Results of a questionnaire completed by 69 British parents of children with special educational needs who were protected by a formal statement indicated that parents do not always understand the procedures for assessment and "statementing" of their child's needs, and that parents are generally satisfied with their communication with…

This reply to a commentary (EC 600 858) on a previously published paper (EC 230 267) dealing with the regular education initiative (REI) argues that a critical element in managing mainstream classrooms is use of team approach, that existing visions of the future are tenuous, and that integrated student placement is a preferred condition but not…

Guidelines of the Southern College of Optometry (Tennessee) for development and administration of student externships are outlined and discussed, including principles addressing the setting of aims, goals, and objectives; preceptor (supervisor) and site selection; preceptor training; assignment of externships; and evaluation of students,…

Special education is in danger of disintegration due to both justified criticisms of implementational failures and unjustified criticisms concerning its conceptualization and the separate placement of some students with disabilities. Needed reforms include constructing defensible rival philosophies and improving the preparation and support of…

Because of the lack of empirical findings about inclusion of students with emotional/behavioral disorders in regular education settings, this study obtained initial data including district level data regarding student placement; service provisions; personnel needs; impact on general education teachers; and student outcome data for one cohort of…

In a survey of 96 New England transition classroom teachers, characteristics of transition classes and criteria for assignment to transition classes were identified. Most programs were reported to be child-centered, and socioemotional development was reported to be the most important criterion for selecting children for inclusion in transition…

Discusses changes in school organization in Germany. Three models are being implemented: differentiating instructional objects, peripatetic teacher system, and cooperative schools. Change in teachers' professional identity has come through changing emphasis in teacher training to teachers as change agents of the social environment as well as of…

Comparison of college students with learning disabilities who either graduated (n=23) or did not graduate (n=17) from college found that the two groups differed on frequency of self-contained placement, duration of private tutoring, high school English courses, and age and prior college experience at college entrance. Gender differences were also…

The situation at Haifa University, which has received approximately 250 new Russian immigrants each semester for the past 2 years, is discussed in terms of testing and evaluation, student performance, and implications for learning and teaching. Differences between multilingual and monolingual language learning are described. (six references) (LB)

Presents results of a study of relationships between parents' education levels and the level their children's placement in a mathematics tracking system. Reports that college-educated parents are more involved and likely to intervene in their children's placement and decisions. Concludes that parent involvement at critical decision points helps to…