In this article, co-written by a self-identified White female professor and a self-identified Black male doctoral student, the authors address the pressing need to train and retain a teacher workforce willing and able to foster equity for students from nondominant racial, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds. They make three arguments. First, the…

Personnel in juvenile corrections (JC) work with students who have challenging academic, behavioral, and mental health needs. The complexity of the JC setting requires personnel to be highly skilled in effective practices to meet the demands of their job. Unfortunately, juvenile correctional personnel are neglected as an important link in the…

In this article, issues surrounding the status of special education teaching as a profession are investigated. First, the authors consider what makes an occupation a profession and examine the range of views of professions in American society. Second, the authors describe the evolution and developmental history of three established professions:…

Five alternatives to traditional field experiences in special education are described and contrasted, including: infusion of experiences within content courses; traditional experiences offered during the summer session; working practica; roving practica; and specialized field-experiences. It is argued that these alternatives can provide…

West Virginia University's five-year preservice teacher education program prepares general education teachers for students with special needs. Using a strand approach, special education learning outcomes and competencies have been incorporated into core education courses. A survey of 72 program participants and 11 faculty members indicates…

Describes the portfolio-assessment process in the Special Education Program at Georgia Southern University. The portfolio-assessment process allows preservice teachers the opportunity to demonstrate their professional growth throughout the course of their teacher-education program. It has also fostered a mentoring relationship between students and…

This is the first in a series of articles addressing conceptions of teacher learning, and the implications of these conceptions for improving the practice of teaching. This article provides descriptions of three perspectives on teacher learning: knowledge-for-practice, knowledge-in-practice, and knowledge-of practice (Cochran-Smith & Lytle, 1999).…

This article describes a University of Hawaii at Manoa course that is designed to prepare teachers and related school personnel to work with at-risk students in inclusive settings. A survey of 105 special education teacher certification programs found that only 9 offered a separate course on working with at-risk students. (Contains references.)…

Describes a staff-development program in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) designed to increase the knowledge and skills for special and general educators, administrators, and related service personnel. Describes the content of the program is and presents procedures for tailoring and delivering the program to specific audiences.…

This article describes Project Inclusion, a state-funded project at Southeastern Louisiana University, which provided financial support for general educators to take university courses to develop their knowledge and skills concerning students with disabilities. The courses emphasized collaboration techniques, curricular modifications, and behavior…

Describes the Pair Tutoring Program, involving 264 preservice general educators and 118 children, either with disabilities or at-risk, a component of the RARE (Reflective and Responsive Educator) program. This early, field-based experience is designed to prepare preservice general education teachers to work more effectively with diverse learning…

Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services have been legally mandated for several years. However, the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments P.L. 105-17 (IDEA1997), which states that every student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) must be considered for AT, had enormous implications impacting approximately six…

Describes the four modules of a project for enhancing the knowledge and skills of educators to better serve children with attention deficits, and the inservice personnel-preparation program based on these modules. Modules focus on characteristics and identification, model school programs, effective classroom interventions, and policy and…

Describes the distance-learning staff-development opportunities produced through an initial project on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD) at the University of Georgia, the effects of the technology involved, and the opportunities that have evolved from programs created. Addresses selection of distance learning technology. (Author/CR)

Compares factors in the literature associated with successful outcomes in distance education with the experience of providing an inservice teacher-education program on attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (AD/HD). Presents the method of a satellite- and telephone-based course and evaluation of this graduate level inservice course. (Author/CR)