This paper argues for students' inclusion as empowered participants in the process of designing their Individual Education Plans (IEP). Possible student roles in assessment, IEP development, evaluation, modification and other IEP stages are described. Guidelines for student participation in the IEP conference and a sample self-evaluation checklist…

The Evaluation and Programming System: Assessment Level I (EPS-I) was evaluated for effectiveness in developing individual education goals among handicapped or at-risk infants and young children. Early interventionists (N=48) used EPS-I and other instruments to develop goals which were compared. Findings indicate EPS-I goals were functional,…

Inclusion advocates support heterogeneous programs where special education students are educated within the confines of a regular educational classroom. An array of services are provided that are coordinated across educational and community agency personnel. Districts must make sure the students are ready to be included, the staff is trained, and…

Describes the development and components of a referral database management system developed by the Arkansas Transition Project. The system enables individualized-education-plan team members to refer students with disabilities directly to adult agencies and to receive a monitoring report describing the agency response to the referral. The system is…

A survey of 53 early-childhood special-education teachers in Korea found that children ages 3 to 7 were the group most frequently served, teachers reported infrequent assessment and scarcity of curriculum resources, most use a self- or school-developed curriculum, and confusion exists regarding the concept and use of the Individualized Education…

This article discusses the advantages of student-led conferences for students with and without disabilities and their families, including increased student involvement, student goal-setting, student reflection, and student responsibility. It describes the steps and positive results from one school district that has adopted the student-led…

In response to Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments (1997), the Virginia Department of Education implemented a statewide mediation system that includes eight mediators to resolve parent-school conflicts involving special-education issues. An impartial third party helps disputants reach agreement in a nonthreatening atmosphere.…

This article provides a map for teachers of students with or without disabilities to use in searching the self-determination literature for usable ideas. The map includes two primary paths: the first leads through the conceptual literature and the second through the intervention literature. Pitfalls are identified and examples illustrate uses in…

Principals are pivotal in expanding opportunities for more inclusive programming while ensuring that students with disabilities receive carefully planned, individualized services. By allocating the necessary resources, providing inservice training, scheduling time for collaborative planning and preparation, and designing systematic program…

As the 21st century approaches, schools are facing a major paradigm shift. Today's educators need retraining to be capable of instruction by 2010. Traditional courses of study will be replaced with projects relevant to students' lives and ability levels. School overcrowding will be resolved by technology and flextime schedules. School business…

Teachers working with parents of young children with learning difficulties must build relationships acknowledging parent expertise and form a cohesive approach to help the child learn. Individual education plans should reflect priorities and opinions of parents and specialists and recognize the value of nurturing interactions within families. (SK)

Two special educators share their experiences in developing standards-based lessons to help students manage their own Individualized Education Programs. They describe strategies used to begin the process, provide a sample unit lesson plan, and show how a typical 50-minute class period could be structured to incorporate self-determination skills.…

A study that reviewed 329 Individualized Transition Plans (ITPs) found ITPs generally followed the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, however, they were less likely to address additional transition areas suggested in Louisiana's transitional planning menu, including living arrangements, homemaking needs, financial…

A study analyzed the extent to which states implemented the transition services required by federal law during the 1993-94 through 1996-97 monitoring cycles. Results found many are not inviting students to their Individualized Education Program (IEP) meetings and that 50 percent did not have statements of needed transition services (Individualized…

Discussion of curriculum-based assessment in spelling considers spelling deficits, spelling assessment instruments, administering curriculum based spelling tests, and monitoring progress. Use of the criterion-referenced testing model provides teachers with grade-level specific and skill-specific information and can assist in individualized…