The decision to mainstream a child into the least restrictive environment opens up a variety of possibilities. The author surveys the mainstreaming options available in public schools, ranging from regular class placement to custodial care. (Part of a theme issue on mainstreaming.) (Editor/SJL)

To assess the delivery of support services from resource room teachers to regular elementary teachers involved in mainstreaming learning disabled students, the Index of Support Services (a list of 26 services) was developed and distributed to 228 regular educators for rating. (Author/SBH)

Thirty-two students with and without learning disabilities who had participated in both inclusion and pull-out service delivery models were interviewed individually. Overall, more children preferred the pull-out model, but many children were confident that inclusion was meeting their academic and social needs. (Author/DB)

The researchers who conducted a study of the views of regular elementary teachers toward provision of special services through either "pull-in" or "pull-out" programs consider the researcher's role as change agent. The authors stress the timing of their research (with new legislation mandating consultant teacher services) and…

An approach to occupational therapy (OT) in a rural school is described which utilizes a combination of direct service, monitoring, and consultation. A collaborative style of OT consulting is used, which calls for the therapist to join the child study team when motor-related problems are identified. The approach provides continuous and…

Addressed are theoretical issues involved in implementing a full-service learning disabilities/remedial reading resource program for grades 4 to 8. Topics considered include distinctions between various types of resource rooms, principles of reorganizing school services to provide a full services resource program (including implications for staff…

The extent of similarities and differences among educable mentally retarded (EMR), learning disabled (LD), and emotionally disturbed (ED) children was investigated with 75 resource room teachers. Teachers were asked to provide information regarding the children in their classes and some of their program activities; equal numbers of each type of…

Elementary students (n=150) with learning disabilities were interviewed regarding their preferences for special education service delivery. Students (who were all currently receiving pull-out services) preferred receiving extra help in the special education class from the special education teacher. Students' preferences were not related to age,…

This study compared regular education teacher evaluations of the social competence of elementary children with learning disabilities (n=68) receiving services in either traditional "pull out" models or in "integrated" programs. It found that service delivery model alone without any specific planned social-behavioral interventions did not have a…

Two studies compared the inclusion only, pull-out only, and combined services models for elementary students with mild disabilities, using a survey of 80 teachers and comparison of reading improvement in 240 students in the 3 models. Teacher satisfaction and student progress in reading were significantly greater for the combined services model.…

The paper describes problems endemic to the evaluation of programs for gifted and talented students. The goals of gifted and talented programs are often substantially different from those covered on outcome measures available to schools. When decisions are being made about the type of programs to be provided, parallel consideration should be given…

A study of the reintegration of 382 severely emotionally disturbed/behaviorally disordered students (preschool through secondary) into less restrictive programs revealed that the expected continuum of services (most to least restrictive) were reversed. The predominant placement was full integration, followed in descending order by resource and…

Providing additional academic challenges to gifted middle schoolers can be demanding, considering their involvement in multitudinous activities. A Pennsylvania school developed a three-prong approach that provides more rigorous curricular content and adopts the group instruction method favored by music departments and the one-on-one technique used…

Describes four models that have been shown to be effective in including students with disabilities in regular school programs: consultation, team teaching, aide services, and limited pullout service. Advantages and challenges of inclusion at the middle-school level are addressed. (DB)

This article discusses inclusive and collaborative intervention for students with disabilities. A case study of an 8-year-old boy with language impairments contrasts language gains when service delivery was changed from a pull-out model to the Class within a Class (CWC) model when significantly more language gains were obtained. (Contains…