In order to effectively engage and be an advocate during the special education process, parents must be equipped with knowledge of the special education process as well as their rights. This article reports the results of a synthesis of published studies that explored, reported, or estimated parents' knowledge and understanding of the special…

Effective collaboration is associated with positive outcomes for students and is a key component of equitable educational opportunities. There are challenges to effective collaboration, however, as our understanding of it differs based on the various definitions in the literature. The purpose of this systematic review is to identify the common…

Teaching methods that individualize and adapt instructional conditions to K-12 learners' needs, abilities, and interests help improve learning achievement. The most important variables are the teacher's role in the classroom as a guide and mentor and the adaptability of learning activities and materials. This Campbell systematic review assesses…

18 qualitative investigations of families of children with disabilities from nondominant communities and their perspectives on home-school partnerships were included in this meta-synthesis. Included studies used a qualitative research design to examine the perspectives of families of children with disabilities from nondominant communities in…

The purpose of this review was to synthesize research on the effect of professional development (PD) targeting data-based decision-making processes on teachers' knowledge, skills, and self-efficacy related to curriculum-based measurement (CBM) and data-based decision-making (DBDM). To be eligible for this review, studies had to: (1) be published…

Representing a sequel to a similar case law snapshot in mid-2010, this article provides an updated overview of the judicial and administrative case law concerning students with traumatic and nontraumatic brain injury in the P-12 school context. The scope is limited to cases under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and the pair of…

Parents who are knowledgeable of special education are more likely to engage in their child's education. Parents seek information about special education from a number of sources including State Departments of Education (SDEs). However, little is known about the web-based special education resources SDEs provide to parents. We sought to address…

Over 6.5 million youth and their families are eligible for early intervention or special education services (Data Accountability Center, 2011) under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 (IDEA). The principal mechanism by which goals, objectives, services, and placements are determined for Part B of the IDEA are Individualized…

This article reviews the causes of underachievement in gifted students and discusses two successful intervention programs, a secondary program with individualized goals to meet the needs and interests of the students, and an elementary program which focused on active parental support and the services of a psychologist. Case studies of…

Examines issues arising from Careers Service refocusing its work with the 'disaffected' in the UK, with particular attention to preventive work with the under 16s as a new direction for careers practitioners. Discusses the extent to which 'inclusion' is likely to be achieved via enhanced guidance. Suggests that guidance is ineffective if it fails…

Discusses the changing role and responsibilities of reading teachers and reading specialists in helping to plan and implement the Individualized Education Program (IEP) requirement of Public Law 94-142. (MKM)

The article examines possible conflicts between specific aspects (particularly the individualized education program and mainstreaming) of P.L. 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act) and the broad intent, or spirit of the Law. (SBH)

Inclusion of students with disabilities, especially those with mental retardation, has come to mean the placement of all students in general education classrooms, sometimes with limited planning for the individual needs of each student. Several court cases, laws, and movements have brought about the level of inclusion that exists today. However,…

The booklet on mainstreaming looks at the merging of special and regular education as a process rather than as an end. Chapters address the following topics (sample subtopics in parentheses): what is mainstreaming; pros and cons of mainstreaming; forces influencing change in special education (educators, parents and advocacy groups, the courts,…

The report examines reasons for widely different proportions of handicapped children identified in 24 local school districts across six states and surveys the implementation of special education programs in those districts. Interviews are said to have been conducted with over 1000 persons, including students, teachers, parents, administrators, and…