A study was undertaken to explore program policies and practices related to the accessibility of American distance learning courses to qualified students with disabilities. A literature review was conducted, a draft list of accessibility indicators was created, examples of applications of the indicators in existing distance learning programs were…

Parents of 209 children (162 males and 46 females) with autism spectrum disorders, Down syndrome or learning disabilities ranging in age from 4 to 21 years were surveyed about their perceptions of the education of their children. Items on the survey were categorized into 7 areas: school personnel's knowledge about the disability, best practices,…

The authors examined the effects of an intensive onsite technical assistance (IOTA) model on the inclusive practices of special educators. Three special educators received technical assistance that included performance assessments, workshops on inclusive practices, and intensive onsite follow-up support. Inclusive practices were measured using…

A 5-year plan to improve the delivery of services to special needs students was evaluated in Fairbanks, Alaska. The plan focused on developing a model for integrated services and reducing the number of pull-out programs by having special services staff work directly with classroom teachers. Information sources included interviews with 62 staff…

This report responds to an extended community discussion, UALR 2000, of the future role and service that the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR) can offer central Arkansas and its metropolitan area. An opening section begins to examine the university's relationship with the public by reviewing central institutional values, quality issues,…

This issue focuses on teaching for diversity, reviewing some strategies designed to increase the supply of minority teachers and to prepare all teachers to work with students of many different races, cultures, and backgrounds. These strategies are being piloted in programs across the United States. One strategy for increasing the supply of…

This report contains details of the results of the Primary Assessment Program conducted in 1991 in urban and non-urban schools in the Northern Territory of Australia. The assessment program, conducted annually at years 5 and 7 in urban schools and at ages 10 years and above in non-urban schools, monitors achievement in English and mathematics. In…

The Middle Level Demonstration School of the New York City Public Schools, in operation since September 1991, is committed to creating a middle school in which both students and teachers are active participants in a supportive learning community characterized by high standards, mutual respect, and cooperation. Parents are seen as important members…

Policy planners can create improved systems of care and new support systems for rural families who are raising children with disabling conditions or special health care needs, by recognizing the unique needs of these families, the ecology of local service delivery systems, and the special resource requirements of rural areas. Lack of information…

This report uses text, graphs, and tables to present findings of a 1996 survey of 575 adolescents voluntarily participating in residential behavioral treatment facilities in Minnesota. Compared with public school students, these adolescents were: 62 percent male, more likely to be of color, especially American Indian, and twice as likely as other…

Guidance Oriented Acquisition of Learning Skills (Project GOALS) was a federally-funded project in three Brooklyn (New York) high schools in its fourth year of operation in 1992-93. It served 312 limited-English-proficient and 57 English-proficient students through instruction in English as a Second Language (ESL), native language arts (NLA) in…

Two initiatives to introduce technology into the art curriculum of a school district are described. The initiatives gave permission for money to be spent on third-grade and middle-school programs. Both were designed around the existing art curriculum and attempted to take advantage of hardware the district already owned. In the third-grade…

This report presents recommendations concerning alternative strategies for providing elementary and secondary students with information needed for preparing and paying for higher education as well as the possible use of financial incentives to increase pupil motivation. The report analyzes information about existing California programs that seek…

A middle-grade restructuring effort implemented by the Monterey Peninsula Unified School District is described in this report. A literature review and interviews with four educators experienced in restructuring explore issues in middle-school transition at the school and district levels. Topics related to the implementation process include needs…

Data on public and private secondary schools that offer advanced placement programs--that is, courses for which college credit is awarded--are provided in this survey report. information on school characteristics and the nature of the program offerings (information not included in College Entrance Examination Board publications) was collected by…