Reported are the results of five studies involving 693 secondary and college students in individualized biology courses to identify student characteristics relating to high achievement in these courses. Prior knowledge, intellectual ability, and motivation related to high student performance in all five studies. (SL)

Examines the effectiveness of a systems approach, diagnostic reading program. (RB)

Describes the implementation of the Intermediate Science Curriculum Study (ISCS) in Flint, Michigan. An increase in student failures resulted from implementing this curriculum. Reasons for the increase in student failures are given. (GS)

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act does not specify whether parents or school districts have the burden of proof in special education litigation. It is the position of the National Council on Disability that school districts, not parents, should have the burden of proof in issues about Individualized Education Plans (IEP's),…

This riveting account of Dennis Littky and how his ideas turned around a troubled rural high school--the first school named to the acclaimed Coalition of Essential Schools--gives you a behind-the-scenes perspective on how principal leadership can accomplish positive change. Read how Littky's philosophy of personalized learning--one student at a…

This guide is designed to help individual teachers as they plan for and implement student-led Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students with disabilities. It presents activities for helping secondary students develop and participate in their IEPs. The first part of the guide is organized around the following five stages for involving…

In educational environments, it is desirable to support the mechanism by which people can participate in interesting communities without any trouble and also to promote successful learning activities. Now that Web-based environments have been successively organized under a virtualized communication network or a logical interaction space, the…

This digest discusses the unique needs of mathematically gifted students and reasons why curriculum and instruction should be differentiated for these learners in mixed-ability classrooms. Recommendations for differentiation include: (1) give pre-assessments so that students who already know the material do not have to repeat it but may be…

This paper describes Maine's high standards for all students and a model for personalizing instruction and assessment to fit student needs, thus providing fair opportunities for all children to achieve the standards. Maine's academic standards, the Learning Results, are structured in three levels: broad performance goals for all students (guiding…

This article discusses the development and operation of a mixed-ability, individualized mathematics project. The report is divided into five sections: problems and successes, SMP workcards, continuing development, questions of method, and more workcards. The workcards form a major component of the program. (LS)

Employers and educators in Dallas have created an effective, popular career development program; graduates are prepared for continuing education and possess entry-level skills in a job specialty. Flexible curricula allow students to construct directly relevant programs from fast-paced academic work and practical training in 27 "career…

After researching NASSP's clearinghouse of information on exemplary programs, the writers present a synthesis of instructional strategies and curricular modalities in communications, social science, and humanities. Schools identified are listed at the end of the article. (Editor)

A study is reported of 715 second year shorthand high school students comparing traditional instruction with laboratory instruction. Students in the shorthand laboratory (individualized instruction through use of various audio taped materials) achieved significantly higher in a transcription task than traditionally-taught students. (SC)

Article discusses the utilization of the computer to enable the teacher to supply alternative activities for the student. (Author)