Background: Considering the rapid global movement towards inclusion for students with special educational needs (SEN), there is a surprising lack of pedagogical or didactic theories regarding the ways in which inclusive education may affect students with SEN. Group composition within the educational setting may play a role in determining the…

Socialization difficulties in children with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) are often associated with peer rejection and impaired academic achievement. Schools might appear to offer an ideal setting for social-emotional skills (SES) instruction. However, common challenges to successful implementation of school-based programs include inadequate…

This quasi-experimental study focused on 15 pairs of children with extensive support needs, matched across 12 characteristics based on their first complete Individual Education Program (IEP) in the school district. One child in each pair was included in general education for 80% or more of their day from their first IEP to the most current IEP at…

Research on the effectiveness of the special education class is reviewed and studies on the role of resource rooms are discussed. (CL)

A meta-analysis was performed on 11 empirical studies of the effects of mainstreaming. Results indicated that mainstreamed disabled students consistently outperformed nonmainstreamed students with comparable special education classifications. The most success was found in programs with design features (such as continuous assessment) suggested by…

Examined was the relative effectiveness of four Ontario programs in integrating 195 hearing impaired elementary and secondary students into regular classrooms. Ss in settings classified as full integration, integration with itinerant help, partial integration, and partial segregation were given tests of hearing threshold, aural and oral…

A norm referenced model was used to evaluate the relative effectiveness of intervention efforts with 3,896 learning disabled elementary and secondary school children. Ss were tested on the Wide Range Achievement Test. Significant growth was observed in students from resource and self contained classrooms. Gains did not appear to vary with the…

This study compared perceptions of staff in self-contained programs and mainstreamed programs for students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) in a district committed to inclusion, interagency coordination, and staff training. Well-established self-contained programs were perceived as superior to relatively new mainstream programs in…

Argues that regular class placement is inappropriate for the special student because (l) regular classes are too competitive; (2) rejection by other students may occur; and (3) the regular class teacher lacks the necessary special training and support. Suggests upgrading special classes and seeking other methods of integrating students. (SJL)

Research on the efficacy of special classes is reviewed in terms of academic achievement, personal and social adjustment, and the role of labeling. (CL)

Surveyed were the program planning processes employed by 40 New Jersey schools in establishing resource rooms as alternatives to self-contained special classes for handicapped children. Responses to questionnaire items indicated that a majority of the schools surveyed did not formally evaluate their previous self-contained program to determine its…

This report discusses the outcomes of a study that investigated whether a self-contained (SC) or pull-out (PO) intervention model was the most effective and most supportive of children's behavioral gains over the course of the entire 1996/1997 year. Data were collected by reviewing the clinical records of children (ages 6-14) who participated in…

The study involving six Philadelphia schools was designed to validate the Circle Test of Honesty as a prescreening technique for identifying candidates for placement in emotionally disturbed (ED) classes. A search of the literature revealed a lack of research correlating moral judgment with identification of disturbed children or with rate of…

Presented is the complete report from an evaluation of special education services in Alberta, Canada (1975-1976). The first section details the relationships between predictor variables (such as pupil density; annual per pupil expenditure, and mean salary of teaching and administrative staff) and the proportion of students served. Reviewed in the…

A survey evaluation of special classes for the gifted in 35 Indiana school districts was carried out among 173 teachers, administrators, and program coordinators. Results indicated that the curriculum and teaching methods were clearly differentiated for the gifted and were effective in meeting their needs. (Author/PB)