This report by the Center on Education Policy (CEP) looks at how local educators perceive and act on state policies designed to help at-risk students and English language learners (ELLs) achieve the levels of proficiency needed to pass state high school exit examinations and graduate. Our findings are based on data from school observations and…

For students with disabilities, annual goals are the nuts and bolts of the everyday program outlined in their individualized education program (IEP). According to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) of 2004, a present level of performance with measurable annual goals must be outlined in a student's IEP. Goals should…

Students with disabilities and special needs have faced challenges in accessing educational content, and in taking traditional pen-and-paper tests. How might technology improve the process, while making statewide tests truly accessible to all students? NimbleTools is the first computer-based test delivery system that incorporates principles of…

A special demonstration project to develop, pilot test, evaluate, and disseminate a competency-based, open-entry/open-exit training program model for adult education guidance and counseling personnel resulted in the development of SAGE (Skills for Adult Guidance Educators). The SAGE training system was developed in nine steps including exploring…

The document provides descriptions of five individualized learning models developed by the Community College of Vermont, a noncampus institution, for its predominantly adult student population. Models include: (1) Cluster, involving 10-30 students in a learning support group to define their needs and interests and to investigate appropriate…

This section of the Idaho Primer on Special Education in Charter Schools is divided into two parts: (1) a discussion of the legal status of charter schools and their linkage to other local education agencies (LEAs), and (2) a synopsis of federal laws that are most relevant to special education in charter schools. The Primer on Special Education in…

A growing number of states and communities are implementing the Pyramid Model in early care and education settings, and in many of these places there are also early childhood mental health consultation (ECMHC) programs operating. This policy brief provides an overview of ECMHC, how it can support the implementation of the Pyramid Model and the…

Much progress has been made in the past three decades to improve the quality of education for students with disabilities. Schools have had to undergo complex changes in order to implement the special education laws regarding access to and structure of educational services. Although services have dramatically improved, there remain frequent…

The report describes policies and services for individuals with developmental disabilities in Minnesota. It emphasizes changes in the way of thinking about individuals with developmental disabilities as knowledge increases concerning what they are capable of doing and what is important in their lives and how they can be supported in communities.…

The Learning Center at Glendale Community College is described in this four-part report which also evaluates the success of the Center in meeting the needs of new, nontraditional students. Part I reviews the literature dealing with the high dropout rate of nontraditional students admitted via the "open door" and provides definitions for the terms…

The second-year report describes Project ACT (Adult Competency Training) efforts from July 1, 1973 to June 30, 1974 to develop a regional staff development system. Three elements were perceived to be essential: a regional consortium organization to effectively implement ACT programs, State-by-State and region-wide; a multi-dimensional trainer…

Three tests were developed in the Canadore Comprehensive Achievement Monitoring (CAM) project in the area of mathematics. The Canadore CAM Monitoring Tests were used to obtain an estimate of knowledge of objectives on a preinstruction, postinstruction and retention basis. The Math Survey Tests were used to place a student at the appropriate point…

Addresses five questions concerning special education for students with disabilities: Why are so many students considered disabled? What are their educational needs? How should appropriate, individualized services be funded? Are Individuals with Disabilities Education Act's procedural protections necessary? and Can regular education meet needs of…

The Identifying School Behavior Problems program is a computer based system for developing and implementing individualized education plans for the social-emotional skills area. Designed for use with troubled children, the program systematically leads the teacher through processes of assessment, instruction, and recordkeeping using a menu system of…

The paper describes King Edward Campus's (Nova Scotia) Individualized Educational Program for Adults (I.E.P.A.) for learning disabled adults. Sections address the following: program divisions, development of the I.E.P.A., components of the I.E.P.A. committee, the referral process, learning diagnostic services, the learning diagnostician's role,…