Integrating infant mental health services into early education programs leads to better child outcomes and stronger parent-child relationships--the big question is how to do it appropriately and effectively. Clear answers are in this accessible textbook, created to prepare early childhood professionals and programs to weave best practices in…

This article describes one school district's efforts to improve the identification procedures for an elementary pullout program for gifted students through systematic reassessment and revision. Revisions made in the areas of student nomination, data gathering, data synthesis, diagnostic assessment, and validation are discussed. Results from…

Effective, "schoolwide" inclusion ensures the best outcomes for all students--but how can school teams knock down the barriers to inclusion and make sure it's happening across all classrooms? This concise book gives principals and other school leaders the solution they've been waiting for: a clear framework for leading inclusion efforts,…

This set of effectiveness indicators is intended to assist Colorado communities and agencies to evaluate themselves regarding processes for the identification of young children (birth to age 5) with disabilities. First, a statement of values stresses proactivity, family empowerment, and outcome orientation. Specific effectiveness indicators are…

This report reviews and synthesizes the most promising practices used to identify exceptionally talented students from the Native American population. Preliminary information includes an Indian Student Bill of Rights, discussion of the problem of talent identification, and discussion of special issues including diversity within the Native American…

This article examines the legal requirements of assessing students with disabilities, especially students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD). It reviews assessment legislation and litigation in special education and explains specific requirements for assessing students with EBD. The article also examines school districts' obligations…

This guide outlines the process of screening preschool-age children in North Dakota to determine their need for special education services. As mass screenings were found to lack cost-effectiveness, selective screening is encouraged. A periodic selective screening process, using a coordinated, interagency approach, is recommended for the earliest…

A survey of 51 state departments of education focused on learning disabilities definitions, identification criteria, and operationalization procedures. Results showed the continued impact of the 1977 federal definition and criteria. Findings are compared with those from a 1985 survey and discussed in terms of trends, prereferral interventions,…

A survey of state directors of special education found that states vary greatly in the ways they define autism, assess autism, and provide training and technical assistance for those working with pupils with autism. Tables provide survey data by state. Recommendations focus on professional training needs, assessment practices, and eligibility…

This document discusses legal considerations in the identification of Michigan students with learning disabilities and suggests guidelines for meeting legal requirements in a systematic and consistent manner. An introduction outlines issues and problems related to the assessment of learning disabilities and provides a rationale for the importance…

The guidelines define procedures outlined by state (Kansas) and federal laws and regulations concerning the identification of students with specific learning disabilities. The first chapter gives the Kansas definition of a learning disability and then outlines the identification process. Chapter 2 provides guidelines for carrying out…

The monograph presents essential components of a decision making sequence used to incorporate formalized family assessment and service planning procedures into two existing early intervention programs in Massachusetts. The 1-year effort used a consultant to: (1) redefine screening and assessment processes to include both child and family centered…

The manual is intended to help South Carolina school systems administer programs for handicapped and disadvantaged persons enrolled in vocational education programs. The manual focuses on: legal mandates; how students are identified; how students are assessed; the assessment instruments utilized; services that can be provided; how student progress…

This document contains California's guidelines for serving students with severe orthopedic impairments in the public schools. Elements characteristic of well-designed programs are described in the guide's three chapters, and each description is followed by a series of questions for program evaluation. The first chapter addresses approaches to…

This guide is the result of an Ohio task force which reviewed issues related to the identification, evaluation, and provision of appropriate educational services to children with language impairments. Two question and answer pages direct readers to the relevant sections of this guide. The first section, on the nature of language, looks at the…