This examination of a case that is seeking to determine whether a district in Tennessee met its obligation under the Individuals with Disabilities Act to provide a "free appropriate public education" to a student with autism concludes that the courts' decisions to date are already literally remarkable for several reasons. These reasons…

The development and implementation of discipline programs for students with exceptional education* needs is a challenging endeavor for school leaders. This case focuses on the application of disciplinary procedures for a chronically disruptive student who is classified severely emotionally disturbed. The case provides a catalyst for educational…

This paper addressed the need for continued awareness on the part of Educational Administrators as to their legal responsibilities as instructional leaders and custodians of the students under their supervision. Research revealed that school administrators unknowingly are violating the law everyday. Courts are keeping a close eye on school…

The purpose of this book is to provide guidelines to develop appropriate Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for children with disabilities based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act amendments of 2004 (IDEA-2004) or Public Law 108-446. These guidelines are intended to result in IEPs that are streamlined, focused, and reasonably…

The "No Child Left Behind" Act (2002) requires that all students have access to the general curriculum at their designated grade level. Federal guidance received from the US Department of Education noted that these extended standards are intended only for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. A key goal is to assure…

The skills of self-determination and self-advocacy are essential for success in adult life. As educators, we want students with disabilities to participate and be significantly involved in the development and implementation of their IEPs, including involvement in IEP and transition planning meetings. By planning, preparing, and presenting an…

This document, prepared as background information for a conference arranged by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education, reviews studies on the use of the individualized education program (IEP) in the education of students with disabilities. The report begins by explaining the legislative origins of the IEP. The report then…

A project was conducted to design an alternative assessment tool for use with adult learners traditionally identified as reading below fifth-grade level. This assessment allows for the creation of a goal-oriented Individual Education Plan that is personalized to the learner's needs and educational goals. The approach, analogous to the art…

The Mentor Supported School Success Program was developed by the rural school district of Dorchester County, Maryland, as an effort to include students displaying troubling behaviors in regular classroom settings. The program offers supplementary support to current school programming through the use of mentors. In the first year of the program,…

This paper describes the efforts of a team of parents, educators, and related personnel to promote successful classroom inclusion of Erin, a girl with Downs Syndrome, during grades K-4. Erin's parents were pioneers in the inclusion movement in rural Mecosta-Osceola Intermediate School District (Michigan), and when Erin was 5, they insisted that…

Individualized instruction and the associated accountability mean more documentation for teachers. How can teacher productivity be increased to handle the heavier workload? The solution for the Jacqueline Vaughn Occupational High School, a special education school in Chicago, was a networked local school computer linked to each teacher's personal…

Literature on the topic of preparing teachers for mainstreaming was reviewed, with focus on research and writings involving: (1) teacher attitudes toward mainstreaming; (2) teachers' expressed needs in regard to mainstreaming; (3) development of preservice education programs which provide a base of knowledge and experience in mainstreaming; (4)…

The study was designed to identify (1) the academic and behavioral areas most often addressed in the Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) of limited English proficient (LEP) and English proficient (non-LEP) mildly handicapped Hispanic students; and (2) the priority rankings assigned by Admission, Review and Dismissal committees to each area.…

The third of five volumes on the means by which Canadian communities can reduce the incidence of mental retardation, minimize existing impairment, and improve the quality of life of the mentally retarded, this booklet focuses on the education of handicapped children and the value of integration with non-handicapped peers in the home and community.…

Activities of a Pierce County, Washington, cooperative established in 1983 to unify the delivery of instructional services to secondary special education students in a vocational education context are reported. The report is divided into two major phases: Phase I, A Determination of Secondary Vocational Education Staff Input and Involvement in the…