Individualized educational programs (IEPs) written either by hand or by use of the "IEP Writer'" a specially designed word processing program, were compared. Results indicated that IEPs which were written using the program took less time and were of higher quality than were handwritten IEPs. (Author/DB)

A survey of 50 vocational and industrial education teachers revealed that most had taught handicapped students and felt a need for a required undergraduate course in vocational education of handicapped students. Their training priorities included (1) vocational assessment, (2) helping organizations, (3) laboratory adaptation, and (4) policies and…

Articles concerning the special needs student include an account of how some teachers participate in the preparation of their students' individualized education programs, the effects of a teacher's attitude on a student's performance and how to put that knowledge to work in the classroom, and ways to help special needs students succeed in…

Parents often become experts on their child's disability. Through their own learning process, many see the value of teaching their child's classmates about the affect of the disability at school. Parents and professionals find that if classmates understand a child's disability, they may become allies in helping the child. The children may also be…

With the introduction of the revised Special Educational Needs (SEN) Code of Practice in 2001/2002, the full range of early years care and education was required to plan and implement inclusion. This meant that many settings were included for the first time in far-reaching changes, designed to make sure that early years children who have special…

This report presents results of a survey of 1,275 Individualized Education Program (IEP) managers in Minnesota concerning IEP team collaboration and communication, technology use, IEP manager tasks, and effects of IEP software, both networked and non-networked versions. Survey data were divided into five comparative groups: no use of software to…

A study examined state Individualized Education Program (IEP) forms to determine the extent to which they include documentation of standards and assessments. All 50 states were asked to send their IEP Forms and to indicate whether they were required, recommended, or simply sample forms. Out of the 41 states with IEP forms, only 5 states…

This brief policy paper outlines considerations that school district personnel should address in determining the inclusion of students with disabilities in state and district testing and the use of alternate assessment for certain students with disabilities. It notes that the decision to include or exclude a student from state and district testing…

The authors examine, through interviews with 175 parents, students, teachers, and support personnel, potential obstacles to the successful development and use of individualized education programs (IEPs) as required by P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. (CL)

The author, a research officer at the National Foundation for Educational Research investigating provisions for children with special needs in regular schools, discusses contrasts in special education practice between England and the United States. (SBH)

Advantages and disadvantages of five policy approaches are examined regarding graduation requirements for handicapped students: pass/fail, certificate of attendance, the individualized education program, special education diplomas, and specialized curriculum approaches. (CL)

Federal law now requires states to establish achievement goals for special-education students. This article discusses the pros and cons of assessing and setting standards for special-education students. (LMI)

This article presents the legal requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments regarding Individualized Education Programs (IEP), functional behavioral assessments, and behavior intervention plans for special education students with problem behavior; describes the initial policy letters and due process hearings that…

The first of two articles on individualized education programs (IEPs) reviews the literature. It traces the origins of IEPs and compares and contrasts their use in different educational systems. Issues in IEPs in the United Kingdom, other European countries, the United States, and Australia are analyzed and general implications for policy and…

This article discusses the phenomenon of skill generalization and techniques for bringing it about. Strategies for generalization facilitation across several dimensions are defined and examples given, with an emphasis on developing and validating decision roles. Further discussion is given to means of facilitating generalization in design and use…