Research has shown that early intervention can greatly improve the development of a child with autism. Children with disabilities--including children with autism--can receive intervention services through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Low income children may also receive intervention services through Medicaid or the State…

Analysis of early intervention expenditure data for 157 children in Massachusetts revealed an enormous variability in the total expenditure per child estimate. The study identified specific child, family, and program characteristics as predictors of different types of service hours. Difficulty in using one mean expenditure figure for planning is…

The "Colorado Children's Budget" presents and analyzes investments and spending trends during the past five state fiscal years on services that benefit children. The "Children's Budget" focuses mainly on state investment and spending, with some analysis of federal investments and spending to provide broader context of state…

This report addresses implementation of the maternal and child health (MCH) services block grant. Information concerning implementation was gathered from 13 states. At least one state was selected in every standard federal region, and, in total, the 13 states accounted for approximately 45 percent of all block grant funds and an equivalent portion…

This paper examines the role that public policy and practice play in supporting the efforts of natural, adoptive, and foster families who have children and youth with disabilities in keeping their families intact. Obstacles and barriers to implementing the philosophy of permanence planning, especially for children and youth with disabilities, are…

A National Institute of Education-sponsored, congressionally mandated project studied impact of the 1976 Education Amendments on services to special needs populations. It was concluded that states were making considerable progress in serving needs of the handicapped, disadvantaged, and limited English-proficient. Room for improvement was found in…

This study examines activities of the South Carolina Department of Education directed toward implementation of Public Law 99-457 (the Education of the Handicapped Act Amendments 1986) which called for special education for preschool children with disabilities. The study specifically documents the number of children served, number of children…

This study evaluated the relationship between Massachusetts special education expenditures and revenues and the overall allocation of school budgets between special and regular education. An introduction reviews the study's background, census-based funding in Massachusetts, education reform efforts in the state, the Foundation Budget approach…

An analysis of the procedures states have adopted to distribute federal funds for vocational education under the 1976 Amendments to the Vocational Education Act shows that there is widespread confusion and variation among the states. While the Act specifies that a formula must be used for distribution of funds, the exact criteria for determining…

The 1976 Vocational Education Act set up procedures governing the flow of funds from the federal government to the states and from the states to the localities; and it establishes priorities for distribution of funds. The Act also demands that money be spent only on the programs or activites mentioned in the Act and that certain minimum…