The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (NECTAC) was charged by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) from 2001-2006 to develop, implement, and evaluate an approach to technical assistance that would result in sustainable systems change in state Early Intervention and Preschool Special…

As a school leader, what do you need to know about Response to Intervention (RTI) and your role in leading instruction for struggling learners? In this article the authors offer guidance about the content of the RTI initiative based on policy, research, and practice. They provide a brief history of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act…

The Rehabilitation Act of 1973, together with the Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975, set in motion policy changes that have allowed many thousands of children and youth with disabilities in the United States the opportunity to gain the educational and vocational skills needed to transition to living, working, and participating as…

A study of transition coordinators (n=39) to determine how state departments of education were addressing policy issues related to the transition mandate in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act revealed that coordinators are facing three major challenges: (1) productive interagency collaboration; (2) assisting local agencies in…

Early career special educators must be engaged in conversations with developers of preservice teacher preparation programs to co-construct initial teacher education programs which meet their needs. The process of listening to the teachers themselves could serve to ensure that teachers are an explicit element of program design. This article…

A former special education teacher reflects on the discovery and acceptance of the benefits of education and training in helping people with disabilities become valuable societal resources. Early evidence of the benefits of transition programs, legislative efforts supporting vocational training for students with disabilities, and the development…

Details the history of the transition movement and the participation of students with disabilities in transition planning. Reviews legislative changes that emphasize self-determination and explains the link between self-determination and students' mental health. Also identifies characteristics of schools that promote self-determination for all…

Communities of Practice offer state agency personnel a promising approach for engaging stakeholder groups in collaboratively solving complex and, often, persistent problems in special education. Communities of Practice can help state agency personnel drive strategy, solve problems, promote the spread of best practices, develop members'…

Recommendations are provided for the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) as it pertains to individuals with physical disabilities. Recommendations address the following areas: professional development of teachers, physical disabilities as a focus category in the support programs, and incentives for model…

This state plan describes how the state of New York intends to comply with legislative mandates concerning education of children with disabilities, specifically the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and Part 300 of the Code of Federal Regulations. It also describes the planning and program initiatives that will be undertaken at…

This manual is designed to assist Minnesota school districts in implementing surrogate parent programs under federal law (the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act) and federal and state regulations. An introduction notes that Minnesota special education rules expand on the federal law by clarifying what school districts must do, including…

IDEA Part B funds have more than doubled between the 1999 and 2003 fiscal years, from $4.3 billion to $8.9 billion. This is an increase from 8% to 13% of total special education spending. Increases in federal funds can theoretically support "program growth" by providing fiscal relief to states and districts facing rising special…

Reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) specifies that a behavioral intervention plan (BIP) must be developed for students with disabilities under certain disciplinary exclusions. IDEA, however, does not provide details as to what should be included in BIPs, and this lack of specific guidance often results in…

This article extrapolates principles from litigation concerning students with autistic spectrum disorders (ASD) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act to establish guidelines for individualized education program teams developing appropriate special education programs for students with ASD. Principles address free, appropriate public…

This monograph is intended to provide guidance to state, school district, and building-level personnel, and family organizations as they strive to comply with the transition requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The monograph includes: (1) a description of the importance and intent of transition services for youth…