This report summarizes information from states that responded to a survey on the topic of age of majority for educational decision making. Information was gathered from 40 states during the months of March and April 1999. Results indicate: (1) in 33 of the 40 states, 18 is the age of majority for educational decision making; (2) 23 of the…

The term "children with disabilities" includes, without limitation, all children who, because of permanent or temporary mental, physical or emotional disabilities, need special education, are unable to have all their educational needs met in a regular class without special education and related services, or are unable to be adequately educated in…

A review of laws and records of the courts of colonial New England indicates early laws of Massachusetts extended certain rights to idiots: they authorized the transfer of property, exonerated idiots who committed capital crimes, and extended relief to impoverished idiots. The relationship between colonial laws and present legislation is examined.…

State special education regulations on class size/caseload in special education programs and services are analyzed, and regulations from 21 states are excerpted. Research on class size in general education and special education is reviewed. While there are hundreds of studies reported for general education, there have been very few studies focused…

This publication discusses the findings of a review of the eligibility classifications and criteria provided by the coordinators of the state and jurisdictional preschool program under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Findings revealed seven states use only IDEA, Part B disability categories to identify eligible children of…

This report discusses the outcomes of a project that investigated which districts in Mississippi identify gifted students with disabilities and the aspects of the referral to placement process for gifted education that made identification of twice-exceptional students possible. While it was initially thought that Mississippi's referral to…

Intended for Minnesota legislators, this report compares special education requirements under Minnesota special education legislation and federal legislation. It is divided into two parts. Part 1 compares Minnesota special education law and federal special education requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Part 2…

This bulletin provides information to Missouri school districts on grading, credits, and graduation for students with disabilities. It reviews the difference between the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and discusses discrimination toward students with disabilities and its prohibition…

New Mexico defines a pathway as a planned program of study (course, Individualized Education Program [IEP] goals, objectives, and benchmarks) designed to address the needs of individual students. Students receiving special education services are able to earn their high school diploma option by following one of three pathways: Standard, Career…

The 2016 edition of the "Digest of Education Statistics" is the 52nd in a series of publications initiated in 1962. The "Digest" has been issued annually except for combined editions for the years 1977-78, 1983-84, and 1985-86. Its primary purpose is to provide a compilation of statistical information covering the broad field…

This food manual for small Idaho residential child care institutions with 10-15 students and no full-time cook, is designed to help directors serve meals that promote healthy eating behavior in their residents, serve meals that meet the USDA's Healthy School Meals Initiative, and manage the food service to assure the fiscal integrity of the…

This paper describes the National State Policy Database (NSPD), a full-text searchable database of state and federal education regulations for special education. It summarizes the history of the NSPD and reports on a survey of state directors or their designees as to their use of the database and their suggestions for its future expansion. The…

This brief document analyzes the goals and indicators provided by states as part of the second round of state Biennial Performance Reports (BPRs) covering the academic years 1999-2000 and 2000-2001 as required by the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Review of state (or other federal jurisdiction) BPRs examined:…

This paper discusses the legal and ethical questions surrounding "Do Not Resuscitate" (DNR) orders in the school environment. It begins by reviewing federal and state case law that addresses the appropriateness of medical services and the responsibility of schools in terms of provision of medical services. The review finds that when…

This policy study looks at existing and emerging state policies on social promotion to determine the extent to which students with disabilities are included or excluded. Results reflect the status of state polices at one point in time, as determined from publicly available state documents and statutes of 14 states with promotion policies. The…