In this article, we examined the extant literature regarding college-readiness in math for students entering community colleges. Included in this review are the following topics: (a) the role of community colleges between secondary and postsecondary institutions; (b) national initiatives for college-readiness standards in math; (c) Texas…

The article provides a review of state services for young handicapped children. Section one contains a description of legislation for preschool handicapped education. Part two describes federal programs that relate to special children from birth to mandatory school age. Teacher certification requirements are reviewed in the third section. The…

The increased use of large-scale assessments to measure student achievement and school performance based on defined standards has had a profound impact on state board of education members and other state policymakers. Almost any decision that involves applying standards will, at some point, be unpopular. Everyone seems to be in favor of standards,…

Nearly every state is engaged in standards-based reform, as seen by the development of statewide academic goals and guidelines in core subjects and the subsequent new state tests that will measure students' progress toward achieving these goals. A Study Group on Statewide Assessment Systems formed by the National Association of State Boards of…

The report examines implications of applying a functional rather than categorical definition of disabilities to Connecticut's services for the developmentally disabled. Specific objectives included preparation of an overview of services available, an analysis of policy options and system constraints, an analysis of the implications of reorganizing…

The paper reviews initiatives the South Carolina Department of Education has undertaken in the area of school psychology, particularly as it pertains to evaluating and placing handicapped children. Two brief introductory sections cover the role, function, and certification of school psychologists and national approaches toward the delineation of…

This report provides a comprehensive account of the performance of students with disabilities on state assessment measures. Following an overview of the issues, it explains the laws that govern the reporting of assessment results (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997 (IDEA) and Title I of the Elementary and Secondary…

This document offers three articles reporting research and practice on the use of paraeducators to provide support to students with disabilities and their teachers. Emphasis is on research funded by the Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs. The first article notes the increasing use of paraeducators to provide…

As required by Public Law 100-146, states must submit to the Administration on Developmental Disabilities data concerning services to persons with developmental disabilities. This paper reviews relevant literature to establish a theoretical framework, definitions, and suggestions for extent, scope, eligibility requirements, and measures of…

The California Special Education Paraprofessional Training Task Force conducted a survey to determine the role and utilization of paraprofessionals in special education and corresponding competencies required, the degree of perceived need for training, and desirability of developing a certification plan for statewide training in the state. A…

This paper summarizes what is known about the effects of Texas policies to raise academic standards, measure student performance, and impose consequences for results over the past decade. A careful review of the best available evidence shows that, while Texas has not yet achieved an education "miracle," the state has taken several steps…

This report provides an overview of selected state initiatives related to the training and supervision of paraeducators serving students with disabilities. The five states highlighted in the document were selected because of the significant work each has done in the area of paraeducators. In all five states, paraeducator initiatives began prior to…

Results of a survey of the 50 states regarding initiatives taken in nine policy/issue areas to teacher education are presented. The nine areas were: (1) standards; (2) incentives; (3) irregular certification routes; (4) program curricula; (5) capacity building for schools, colleges, and departments of education; (6) research, data, and evaluation;…

This article provides a legal update on the issue of residential placements for students with disabilities and discusses practice considerations in light of national trends toward greater integration and curbing of rising costs through providing incentives for community-based programs. Practices in Virginia are used as an example. (DB)

Diverse low-cost, innovative, and successful state initiatives for school improvement have been developed over the last five years. Generated by public pressures for accountability, many states' increased capacity for policy analysis, and insights gained during 15 years of administering categorical grant programs, the initiatives include: programs…