In a previous issue of this journal, four present and former editors of the most prestigious journals provide their judgment on the current field of gifted education (Ambrose, VanTassel-Baska, Coleman, & Cross, 2010). They believe that the field is insular, fractured, porous, and contested, and they provide many examples to illustrate their…

This review traces the evolution from 1971 to the present of a national technical assistance (TA) program to support the creation, expansion, and improvement of services for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers with special needs. From its beginning as a TA resource for demonstration projects, to linking outreach projects' expertise with state…

This commentary on the demonstration programs of the Jacob K. Javits Gifted and Talented Students Education Program discusses their role in inducing educational change, their usefulness in illustrating new ideas, their broadening of the definition of the gifted student, their ability to change participating teachers' perspective, and their…

Describes the development and testing of the North Carolina minimal competency testing program. (IRT)

This report presents the findings of a study that investigated the scope and nature of early childhood service delivery systems in three states (Pennsylvania, North Carolina, and Colorado). The study followed 75 children with disabilities for 18 months and surveyed 170 service providers of infants and toddlers and 186 service providers of…

This brief discusses research showing that high-quality early childhood programs can sharply improve readiness for school, especially for children who are at risk of school failure. The brief describes North Carolina's creation of the "More at Four" pre-kindergarten program and discusses research on important issues and potential…

The author proposes a five-component catalytic program designed to support education for gifted and talented students. Components include leadership training, inservice training, research and development, demonstration programs, and state leadership. (CL)

Features of programs that successfully blended the middle school (MS) model or cooperative learning (CL) model with gifted education were assessed. Site visits were made to five MS sites and five CL sites at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Studies showed that gifted students' needs can be met within these programs, with appropriate…

Presented by the Technical Assistance Development System are a planning model for the specification of problems and an evaluation strategy for information collection to implement decision making in the First Chance network of programs for preschool handicapped children. The first chapter offers a planning model in terms of measurable goals,…

This study identified critical factors in two states as they begin to develop family centered policies for the Infant and Toddlers Program as required by Part H of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. It focused on the Individual Family Service Plan, the identification of families' strengths and needs, and case management. Data were…

A local program survey of 95 directors of gifted education examined elements of programing related to the modification of the learning environment, including instructional time, teacher-pupil ratio, additional personnel requirements, and estimates of the excess program costs. Three common models were considered: the special class, teacher…

Provides a portrait of the young gifted child, together with issues related to identification and educational programming for these young children. (Author/RK)

Problems of vocational education programs are discussed beginning with legislation affecting the handicapped. Provisions considered are Titles I and III of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA), the Vocational Education Act of 1963, and the Vocational Education Amendments of 1968. The number of handicapped children served and the…

This study analyzed the goals statements on Individualized Family Service Plans (IFSPs) or Individual Education Programs (IEPs) of 72 families in nine communities. The sample was drawn from communities of varying sizes in three states (Colorado, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania). Families were chosen to include children in 1-year age groupings and…

Noting that one of the major educational policy shifts in recent years has been the establishment of state-funded prekindergarten programs, this report details a study examining how five states (Georgia, Illinois, New York, South Carolina, and Texas) managed this educational policy shift, identified the major facilitators and major barriers, and…