The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was recently reauthorized as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004. Several significant changes were made in the most recent reauthorization. These included requirements for "highly qualified" special education teachers; a track that will result in full…

When a new principal was hired at Gallup Junior High School in northwest New Mexico, he saw redesigning the administrative team as an important opportunity to develop leadership skills in his assistants and groom them for eventual advancement. His changes also provide cross training, so no single individual controls an essential function of the…

More than five million IEP conferences are conducted each year. Despite the number of meetings, many IEPs are not educationally useful or legally correct. A common concern for principals and special education directors hiring new special education teachers is their lack of information concerning IEP development and experience establishing parent…

This article presents questions regarding the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) regulations and the No Child Left Behind Act. The author's answers to these questions are presented.

The chart presented in this paper offers an overview of the special education process. It is not designed to show all steps or the specific details. It shows what happens from the time a child is referred for evaluation and is identified as having a disability, through the development of an individualized education program (IEP). The process…

School-wide positive behavior support (SWPBS) is a systematic and effective approach for broadly improving student behavior across school environments. SWPBS includes data-based strategies for supporting all students along a continuum of need and intensity based on a three-tiered model of prevention. Students with the most significant behavioral…

Positive behavior support (PBS) has evolved over the past 15 years from an individualized approach to behavior management to one with an increased focus on universal applications. Although there are clear areas of convergence between individualized and universal supports, it is also clear that the provision of individualized supports is an…

Major issues concerning the Individualized Education Program (IEP) are reviewed and modifications are proposed. The history of the IEP and current legal requirements for developing IEPs are considered. Current issues with the IEP include the cost of development, the lack of parent involvement in IEP development, and the use of the IEP for…

This Texas state plan presents proposals for provision of services to people with autism. It is noted that less than 25 percent of the estimated 8,500 persons with autism in Texas are currently receiving services. Preliminary sections look at the nature of autism, the numbers of Texans with autism, the responsibilities of the Interagency Council…

This handbook is intended to assist Ohio educators in identifying students for placement in classes for individuals with severe behavior handicaps. The following topics are discussed: (1) definition of severe behavior handicapped, with examples and discussion of five characteristics and three qualifiers; (2) alternatives to referral, with examples…

Project Interface was designed to bring together the two distinct fields of special education and vocational education in order to blend the efforts of the two fields to overcome several problems: differing vocabularies, methods, content, vocational evaluation, appropriate placement, teacher preparation, and the differing expectations of special…

The Secondary Education Transition Model project at Colorado State University-Fort Collins represents a local and state commitment to serve students with severe handicaps who are moving into community work and living roles. These comprehensive transition services begin at the secondary education level and extend into the adult service system. The…

The Delaware State Plan for fiscal years 88-90, as mandated by Public Law 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Part I consists of various submission statements and certifications required by the law. Part II consists of substantive requirements. Policies, procedures, and descriptions concerning the following are detailed: right…

This monograph provides information on the Education for All Handicapped Children Act as well as on vocational education for the handicapped. Following a brief introduction, Section II discusses the purpose of the Act. Section III offers definitions for classification of the handicapped. Legislation relating to vocational education and the…

These conference proceedings deal with the role school psychologists can play in the design and delivery of vocational education programs for handicapped persons. The papers describe the general state of the art for vocational education programs as well as specific programs such as career planning, programs funded by CETA (Comprehensive Employment…