In this study, the researcher analyzed survey responses from 67 Pennsylvania attorneys with experience in special education litigation and reviewed one year of Pennsylvania special education due process hearing decisions to determine the issues that prompt parents to seek legal counsel in special education disputes, the issues that counsel…

Motivated by the multiple-measures clause of recent federal policy regarding student eligibility for alternate assessments based on modified academic achievement standards (AA-MASs), this study examined how scores or combinations of scores from a diverse set of assessments predicted students' end-of-year proficiency status on statewide achievement…

Given their pivotal position, school psychologists have understandable concerns about the possibility of becoming the target of the relatively frequent legal proceedings under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Indeed, the threat of litigation can contribute to a flight from the profession (Lange, 2011). Yet, an informal…

Hundreds of thousands of children and youth with disabilities across the country are receiving secondary transition services. Secondary transition is the process of preparing students with disabilities for life after they leave high school, including participation in post-secondary education or training, employment and independent living.…

Federal special education and accountability policies requires that educators individualize instruction for students with disabilities, while simultaneously ensuring that the vast majority of these students meet age-based grade-level standards and assessment targets. In this paper, we examine this dynamic interplay between policies through…

The book describes Pennsylvania's approach for determining placement of handicapped students in the least restrictive environment (LRE), as mandated by P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Separate sections address the following two topics (subtopics in parentheses): the LRE decision process (content for the decision…

Physical interventions for special education students in crisis remains a controversial concept. The first minute of a crisis situation represents the most crucial time to prevent injury or the exacerbation of injury. Although preventing violence and escalation of negative emotions is the first step in crisis management, school staff also must be…

The guide, most of which consists of appendixes, forms, and formats, is an introduction to the process of developing individualized education programs (IEPs) for handicapped, gifted, and talented children in the state of Pennsylvania. Instructional components of the IEP are discussed in terms of annual goals, short-term objectives, and determining…

The document presents guidelines for organizing and operating programs for the mentally gifted and talented in the state of Pennsylvania. Aspects covered include admission criteria; initial identification/referral; individual psychological testing; program organization and scheduling; curriculum and the individualized education program;…

The final report describes a project designed to serve preschool handicapped children in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania. Seven service components are outlined: creating public awareness of programs and services available to previously unserved handicapped individuals; locating, identifying, and verifying unserved handicapped persons; providing…

IN A SERIES OF THREE STUDIES, THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PACING MODE AND PERFORMANCE BEHAVIOR WAS INVESTIGATED. (REFER TO ACCESSION NUMBERS ED 003 199, ED 003 200, AND ED 003 201 FOR THE DETAILED REPORTS.) THE INVESTIGATION POINTED OUT THAT SELF-PACING CAN BE NONADAPTIVE, AND THAT UNDER SOME CIRCUMSTANCES, INSTRUCTION CAN BE MORE EFFECTIVE WHEN IT…

The impact of the No Child Left Behind Legislation has left Career and Technical Education searching for methods and strategies to infuse academics into their curriculum to help students, through a rigorous and integrated educational experience, develop competencies required for higher education and ultimately, work. Unfortunately, there were…

The final report describes "Project Partners in Education", a Montgomery County (Pennsylvania) project, designed to create a corps of resource persons composed of parents and teachers who would be knowledgeable about the entire IEP (individualized educational plan) process; and to obtain data on the extent of actual IEP implementation on…

THE STEPS IN PLANNING AND CARRYING OUT THE INITIAL PROJECT ARE OUTLINED. THE PROJECT IS AIMED AT PROVIDING A SOUND FACTUAL BASIS WHICH WOULD ASSIST PARENTS, TEACHERS, AND SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS IN HELPING EACH INDIVIDUAL TO REALIZE HIS GREATEST POTENTIAL. TESTS WERE DEVISED TO ANALYZE APTITUDE, ACHIEVEMENT, INTEREST, AND PERSONALITY. THE 2-DAY TEST…