Information concerning implementation of Individualized Transition Plans (ITP) was collected from 46 states and analyzed to determine documentation used in transition planning, relationship between the ITP and Individualized Education Programs, age for beginning transition planning, individuals involved in transition planning, and issues addressed…

Because of the importance of preventing inappropriate disciplinary measures for special education students and those with disabilities, school boards should direct administrators to set specific procedures and limits on disciplinary measures, boost staff development programs, and establish open communication with parents. (MLF)

This policy brief examines states' experiences and data regarding implementation of the transition planning mandate of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It reports on a study which investigated whether implementation of transition planning was associated with decreased dropout rates for youth with disabilities and whether the format…

Reviews and synthesizes court rulings that have expressly discussed the factor of economic cost in considerations of appropriateness of special-education programing. Advises educators to expend their resources in providing appropriate individual special-education programs rather than litigating the costs of those programs. (197 references) (MLF)

Transition from secondary education to adulthood represents a period during which adolescents with disabilities face multiple responsibilities and changing roles that include establishing independence, attending postsecondary education or training, developing social networks, choosing a career, participating in their communities, and managing…

This booklet, organized in a question and answer format, is designed to help state and local education officials, Medicaid officials, and others understand the federal policies governing conditions under which the Medicaid program can pay for the related services required by the individualized education program of a child with disabilities. An…

This bulletin summarizes provisions of federal law as they pertain to special education and juvenile justice. It discusses provisions of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1997 including: the definition of disability; free appropriate public education; identification, referral, and evaluation; the individualized education program…

Provides information on how school districts can reduce their fiscal liability under the Handicapped Child Protection Act (HCPA) of 1986. School officials that present an image of service and cooperation for disabled students are less likely to have a dispute and less likely to have to pay attorneys' fees. (Contains 32 references.) (MLF)

This paper is intended to provide school officials and teachers with the necessary legal background, procedural requirements, and guidance for appropriate implementation of individualized educational programs (IEPs) with violent students with disabilities. Specifically it addresses: (1) the legal background of special education under the…

This report reviews current state policy and practices in the disciplining of students with disabilities, as they are expressed in state documents including statutes, regulations, and other types of written records. Federal law, regulations, and case law are summarized in the report's introduction and background. Findings are presented in terms of…

The paper examines problems in the utilization of the Resource Specialist Teacher (RST) mandated by California law to serve handicapped students. The study evaluated whether the RST certificate mandate effectively altered the implementation of the least restrictive environment policy for disabled students in a rural area of northeastern…

The project manual was a product of the 3-year project, "Functional Mainstreaming for Success," (FMS) designed to develop a model for instructional mainstreaming of 162 handicapped children (3-6 years old) in community settings. The major feature of the project was development of a full reverse mainstreamed preschool program, which…

The Special Education Services of the Michigan Department of Education has prepared the State Plan for the delivery of special education programs and services starting July 1, 1983 through June 30, 1986 according to guidelines and rules established under Title VI Part B of P.L. 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act. This plan…

This staff brief is designed to help policymakers make recommendations for the improvement in educational and related services provided to visually impaired children and adults in the state by public school districts, the Wisconsin School for the Visually Handicapped (WSVH), and other educational agencies. Part 1 provides a brief overview of…

School-to-work transition helps at-risk youth secure and maintain employment and an adult life-style. Transition focuses on individual characteristics, training needs, and choices that result in the development of realistic long-range goals and selection of appropriate programs and services. Effective school-to-work transition necessitates a wide…