In most western countries, the problems of effective university-controlled and largely university-based initial teacher education (ITE) have been apparent for many decades: whatever is achieved in the university, the teaching practices and attitudes that student-teachers usually learn to adopt are those currently dominant in the schools. So it is…

In this article, we share how a professional development school (PDS) partnership between several elementary school sites within a district and an institution of higher education prepares special education teacher candidates. The following challenges are identified for PDS stakeholders: recruiting qualified special education mentor teachers,…

Local school systems, Local Education Agencies [LEAs], and universities, Institutions of Higher Education [IHEs], work together in a variety of ways in the initial preparation and ongoing professional development of teachers, although it is difficult to ascertain the number of LEA/IHE partnerships. These relationships typically allow for a…

Writing is a recursive and complex set of cognitive processes that can be taught effectively to students with disabilities. Employing an adapted cognitive theory of writing, a broad view of what constitutes evidence, and the support of a variety of assistive and internet-based technologies, we developed a writing instructional program to meet the…

This article explains step-by-step activities that make up a collaborative research effort between university teacher educators and public school special education personnel. A research group, its members, and their activities in applied educational research are described including establishment, objectives, and first- and second-year activities.…

This paper reviews the need for formalized training of school psychologists in early childhood education and intervention with children who have disabilities. A training model and preservice training grant to prepare school psychologists to work with culturally diverse preschool children are presented. Challenges faced during the first two years…

This paper describes a collaborative project of Polk County (Florida) public schools and the University of South Florida, which prepares paraprofessionals to become special education teachers. Successful implementation of the project has required overcoming histories of mistrust, establishing an agenda that addresses mutual needs, clarifying roles…

Despite many barriers, a group of Oregon educators began to discuss ideas about how they could provide information that would build skills to improve the entry and success rate for high school students with disabilities in postsecondary education. These educators included high school, community college, and university staff. The Postsecondary…

The Regular Education Inservice Program (REIT) at Bowling Green State University (Ohio) assists instructional resource centers (IRC's) and local educational agencies (LEA's) in developing and implementing inservice non-degree programs which respond to the mandates of Public Law 94-142. The target population is regular education personnel working…

This article describes the development of TEChPLACEs, a collaborative Web site developed by an inclusive kindergarten class and a university development team, to test the feasibility of incorporating communication technologies into the early childhood curriculum. Contents of the Web site and the benefits to students, teachers, and families are…

Information is provided on tech prep education programs, which are part of a restructuring movement that combines secondary and postsecondary programs to provide technical preparation in a field such as engineering technology, agriculture, health, or business. Information on the following topics is outlined: seven essential elements of tech prep;…

This paper on trends in special education and implications for training personnel emphasizes the importance of partnerships between elementary and secondary schools and colleges of education, and specifically recommends the establishment and implementation of clinical models of teacher education and the formation of Professional Development…

The first of the two guides presented in this document is intended for preservice and inservice teacher trainers who want to include technology as an integral part of special education training. The guide is divided into five sections. The first summarizes planning issues for university-based programs. The second explores the planning of inservice…

This article describes the efforts of the University of South Florida's Department of Special Education to change its approach to educating special education teachers, by making a total commitment to align its work with public schools in developing a network of Professional Development Schools to reflect a collaborative model of training and…

Project RAISE (Rural America Institute for Special Educators) was a preservice teacher training program specifically designed for preparing special educators for the demands of rural settings. The project was conducted by the Department of Special Education at Bowling Green State University (Ohio) and concentrated on training special educators in…