This manual presents information and instructions for principals and test coordinators in administering the 1998-99 version of the writing session of the Maine Educational Assessment (MEA). Sections of the manual present a checklist for principals/test coordinators; changes and reminders to the MEA for 1998-99; instructions for test coordinators…

This Quick Turn Around issue analysis summarizes information gathered by Project FORUM on the disability terms used by state education agencies (SEAs). All 50 states and 6 non-state jurisdictions returned completed surveys between February and April 2001. Of the 56 respondents, 18 SEAs report having aligned their terminology completely with the 12…

Since the passage of the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, inclusion of all students with disabilities in accountability systems has been mandatory. By 2001, school personnel began to understand that alternate assessment needed to focus on students' performance on state standards, and nearly all states had created…

Perceptions of the Individualized Family Service Plan (IFSP) process for children with disabilities were assessed in a statewide (North Carolina) survey of approximately 600 child service coordinators. Divergent viewpoints about the usefulness and process of developing the IFSP emerged, depending on the program with which the child service…

A study of 105 parents and 30 state-level administrators from six states investigated the state-level policy- and organization-centered strategies that are compatible with the needs identified by families of young children with disabilities. Results found parents identified access to services and the need for improved coordination as continuing…

The growing population of deinstitutionalized persons with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities is described, some of their information needs are examined, methods of providing library services are suggested, and a rationale for community outreach is provided. The state program in Rhode Island is outlined. (22 references) (EAM)

Discusses the participation of students with disabilities on the Stanford Achievement Test in West Virginia and the testing guidelines and testing Accommodations used. The effects of the inclusion of students with disabilities on class standings and teacher attitudes towards the participation of students with disabilities are addressed. (CR)

On October 25, 2004, President Bush signed into law the reauthorization of the Assistive Technology Act (AT Act). The new law provides a far more optimistic future for assistive technology (AT) and modifies the primary purpose of the previous law. The new AT Act provides "birth to death" legislation and is fundamentally different from…

This document focuses on state requirements for the various professional roles for Part C services and collaborative efforts to ensure high quality personnel are available to provide Part C services. States have established requirements to ensure a high quality workforce for children and families receiving Part C services. These requirements vary…

The National Dropout Prevention Center for Students with Disabilities (NDPC-SD) was assigned the task of compiling, analyzing, and summarizing the data for Indicator 1--Graduation--from the FFY 2008 Annual Performance Reports (APRs) and amended State Performance Plans (SPPs), which were submitted by States to the Office of Special Education…

This handbook was written as a resource for Early Childhood Services (ECS) operators in Alberta (Canada) who are applying for Program Unit Grants (PUG). An introduction explains the principles of ECS in providing a coordinated system of services to meet the developmental and special needs of young children and their families, including children…

The progress states have made toward fulfilling their requirements under Title I of the Improving America's Schools Act is reported. Some states are reporting that they have developed content standards for some subjects, but not for others. In some states, both local school district and state standards are being developed. In all, 43 states had…

This eight-chapter procedural guide outlines a supported work approach for competitive employment training of Mississippi citizens with moderate and severe disabilities. The first chapter defines competitive and supported employment and discusses funding, personnel, program options, and vocational curriculum development and assessment. The second…

In North Carolina, physical therapy services for handicapped students are integrated into school settings via a coordinated statewide effort. The model, headed by a physical therapy consultant, provides flexibility, supports an expanded role of therapists, emphasizes the team approach, and considers the physical therapist as a health professional.…

The document reports on a cost study of special education programs in Arizona. Part 1 focuses on the public school cost study in which 25 districts were surveyed to examine public school special education funding procedures. Noted among findings is that total costs for the handicapped in the sample districts were approximately $62 million for…