Under the supervision of a licensed early intervention provider, paraprofessionals play an indispensable role in implementation of home and community-based services to infants and toddlers with developmental delays or disabilities and their families in Colorado. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 requires that…

The NECTAC Technical Assistance (TA) Model for Long-Term Systems Change (LTSC) recognizes that components of a state system are highly interactive and changes at one level are not likely to be sustained without supportive changes at all related levels. Improved child and family outcomes require: intervention practices that are research-based,…

This article describes three different ways of using paraeducators during adapted physical education. (1.) Having paraeducators read a portion of the lesson plan that describes the desired support towards lesson objectives. Paraeducators then assist all students when needed. (2.) Assigning specific modifications for paraeducators through the IEP…

The National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center was charged by the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs from October 2001 through September 2006 to develop, implement, and evaluate an approach to technical assistance (TA) that would result in sustainable systems change in state early intervention and…

The article describes a model of paraprofessional placement in special education. The process involves four steps: (1) assessing needs and skills; (2) comparing role expectations; (3) resolving differences in perceptions of teacher and paraprofessional; and (4) writing individualized job descriptions. A list of resource materials for training…

The authors propose a model for statewide planning and dissemination in the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development process, as mandated in P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. (CL)

The author describes the Massachusetts and Northeast Region manpower planning projects, discusses the Comprehensive System of Personnel Development (CSPD) as a dynamic process, and reviews problems in its implementation in special education. (CL)

This article identifies factors that gave rise to current educational models to prepare rehabilitation practitioners for work in community-based services in Alberta, Canada; examines recent changes in resources available and services to be delivered; and offers examples of personnel preparation models being organized for the future. (JDD)

The Project ACCESS (Adapting Curriculum Content for Exceptional Secondary Students) resource guide is designed to help regular classroom teachers provide successful experiences to mildly handicapped mainstreamed students through the adaptation of the curriculum. The concerns-based approach, which was used successfully by Project ACCESS, focuses on…

Seven papers from a 1979 workshop address program evaluation factors (specifically planning) in the Handicapped Children's Early Education Program. R. Sheehan ("Evaluation Strategies in Early Childhood Education: A National Perspective") summarizes the state of the art and lists seven guidelines, such as that evaluation efforts must…

The need for better curricular planning, improved access and aids, and more adequate training for further education staff serving handicapped students in English colleges are discussed. (SW)

The newsletter describes the staff and training activities of the Teaching Research Infant and Child Center which consists of two national model centers--Early Education for the Handicapped Model and a Severely Handicapped Education Model. It is reported that staff training procedures developed at the Boulder (Montana) River School and Hospital…

The New Jersey Mainstream Inservice Project is described as a response to the mandate of P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) for a comprehensive system of personnel development. The model stresses collaboration between the state department of education, 50 local school districts, and five institutions of higher education…

The C.A.S.E. model (Conceptualization, Acquisition, Staff Development, and Evaluation) provides a management model for introducing computers into a preschool program for handicapped children over a period of 4 years. Each of the four model components are described and practical applications provided. (Author/DB)

Seven author-contributed papers focus on excellence in urban special education schools. Libby Goodman reviews the isolation of special education teachers and children, in "The Effective School Movement and Special Education," while Dan L. Peterson et al. trace the implications for the Seattle School District of the efforts described in…