In May 2006, Project Forum published a document entitled "Standards-Based IEPs: Implementation in Selected States" based on staff interviews in 18 states about their use of standards-based individualized education programs (IEPs). The definition of a standards-based IEP as presented in that document is: "a process and document that…

This volume considers both the philosophical bases and the practical realities of individualization through the analysis of various approaches to the contract learning process. The first section serves as an introduction to contracting. Chapter 1 develops the concept of contract learning and attempts to set it in perspective within the larger…

The national shortage and exceptionally high attrition rate of special education teachers are impediments to serving students with special needs. Given that only 64 percent of special education teachers have access to a mentor compared with 86 percent of general education teachers, this book meets an essential need for attracting, retaining, and…

It is a difficult task to arrange a learning environment permitting each student to pursue, at all times, the types of activities that most appropriately meet his needs. The concept of individualized performance-based instruction is an attempt to realistically approach this task by diagnosing students' needs and interests related to desired…

The project sought to determine whether certain National Institute of Education (NIE)-funded career education programs provided for personalization of instruction and whether they avoided tracking students into narrowly constrained areas. The first chapter discusses individualized instruction in historical and current perspective and presents…

Questions frequently asked of the authors and their answers are presented to provide a basis for constructive discussion of the issues and concerns resulting from the "Competency Based Curriculum" concept. No attempt has been made to rank or select the questions by importance. Responses presented reflect the authors' thinking at the time of…

The Program for Learning in Accordance with Needs (PLAN) was incorporated into the Washington-Carver Community School in Muncie, Indiana in 1973 as a computer management system for individualized learning. The school is located in a low socioeconomic neighborhood with a population of 600 students identified as low achievers. Language arts,…

This article will first provide an overview of the transition assessment process in terms of the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 and the basic tenets of the process. The second section will provide an overview of the methods of gathering assessment information on the student and on the living,…

In this qualitative study, various professionals in specialized schools for students who are visually impaired provided information on assessment tools; how information was used to plan Individualized Education Programs; and their opinions on the reliability, validity, and usefulness of various measurements. The implications of the findings for…

Assistive Technology (AT) devices and services have been legally mandated for several years. However, the passage of the Individuals with Disabilities Act Amendments P.L. 105-17 (IDEA1997), which states that every student with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) must be considered for AT, had enormous implications impacting approximately six…

This compendium is designed to present the relationship of the rehabilitation process to vocational education; to examine the cooperative roles of vocational education, rehabilitation, and special education; and to identify the trends that will have an impact on the planning for future training needs. Included in the volume are the following…