This report describes the implementation of professional development (PD) reforms and efforts to use teacher effectiveness (TE) data to inform PD through the third year of the initiative for all seven sites: Hillsborough County Public Schools (HCPS), Shelby County Schools (SCS, formerly Memphis City Schools), Pittsburgh Public Schools (PPS), and…

Positive parent-professional collaboration is critical for the educational success of students with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). However, little is known about teacher perceptions of parent-professional collaboration. Thirty-four teachers participated in a qualitative study to gain a better understanding of teachers' perceptions of helpful…

The purpose of this qualitative research study was to explore the perceptions of former and current foster youth about the barriers they encountered during their K-12 education, and to learn how they overcame these obstacles and achieved academic success. The study included in-depth interviews of 11 participants, all of whom were current or former…

Individual Education Program (IEP) teams are composed of diverse individuals, each bringing a unique set of experiences, knowledge, and skills to the table. Given this, it is not uncommon for team members to have different views on the special education and related services needs of the student whose plan is being developed. When divergent views…

The purpose of this study was to determine how an urban school district's code of conduct aligned with actual school/class behaviors, and how stakeholders perceived the ability of this document to achieve its number one goal: safe and productive learning environments. Twenty participants including students, teachers, parents, and administrators…

Interviews with 11 teachers, specialists, and administrators focus on development of individualized education programs (IEPs) for handicapped students. (CL)

The article presents an interview with Dr. Joseph Renzulli, a leader in the field of gifted education. Topics touched on include the individualized educational programing model for gifted/talented children, research in gifted education, and recent books on gifted children. (SBH)

This qualitative study focused on student knowledge and perceptions of the resource room in a private school. Students on an IEP [Individualized Education Plan] or eligible for an IEP and that had attended the resource room were interviewed on the five constructs: knowledge, perceptions, benefits, limitations, and suggestions for improvement.…

In 2008, Thailand passed legislation on the educational provisions for students with disabilities to mandate the implementation of inclusive education. This article provides a historical overview of special education in Thailand and the emergence of inclusive education as it moves from policy to practice. To further identify the challenges faced…

The purpose of this study was to determine whether students with identified behavioral needs were provided a different level of behavioral intervention based on their special education disability category verification. A second purpose of this study was to determine what caused potential differences as interpreted by individuals working in the…

The "Idaho K-12 & School Choice Survey" project, commissioned by The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice and conducted by Braun Research Incorporated (BRI), measures Idaho registered voters' familiarity and views on a range of K-12 education issues and school choice reforms. We report response "levels" and…

In order to guide organizational growth in the Master's in Education with an emphasis in Special Education program, offered at Southwestern College, an in-depth qualitative study was conducted with participants from three specific realms located in the state of Kansas. Participants from the Kansas State Department of Education, Southwestern…

This study investigated parents' perceived levels of involvement and satisfaction in the IEP (Individualized Education Program) planning process. Approximately half of the 98 parents interviewed expressed high levels of satisfaction with their involvement in their children's educational planning process, although 26 percent expressed definite…

This study analyzed the Individualized Education Program (IEP) statements of 24 students' present functioning and goals concerning social competence, observed the students in various school settings, and interviewed teachers and students. IEP statements accurately characterized present peer interactions, but instructional practices to foster peer…

Telephone interviews with 141 randomly selected special education coordinators, principals, and special and general education teachers examined issues related to special education, including a free and appropriate public education (FAPE), Individualized Education Programs (IEPs), and school discipline procedures. Respondents found IEPs too…