This brief overview of minimum competency testing and disabled high school students discusses: the inclusion or exclusion of handicapped students in minimum competency testing programs; approaches to accommodating the individual needs of handicapped students; and legal issues. Surveys of states that have mandated minimum competency tests indicate…

This handbook clarifies how to meet legal requirements when the same student population qualifies for both bilingual and special education programs. Legal streamlining of existing California-mandated requirements for bilingual and special education is emphasized. The handbook begins with a discussion of the difficulties encountered when providing…

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…

States use many high-stakes assessments to make decisions about individuals. These tests may be criticized by those who believe that their purpose or application is discriminatory. Because litigation is time consuming and costly, it is advantageous for states to plan assessments carefully to maximize legal defensibility. This handbook is designed…