This study investigated the effects of teaching middle grade students with disabilities to participate in their IEP meetings using "The Self-Advocacy Strategy." Four students with high-incident disabilities were taught to be active participants in their IEP meetings. Student contributions, along with scores on "The Arc's Self-Determination Scale,"…

This manual is designed to help advocates, including parents, obtain special education for children with disabilities residing in New Jersey. It explains the requirements of the federal statute governing special education--the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)--and the federal regulations implementing IDEA, as well as the state…

Grades, report cards, and other progress reports are important vehicles for communicating with families about their children's strengths, areas to target, and interventions that can be used at home. For families of children with disabilities, accurate information on learning progress is essential for understanding intervention effectiveness and…

"Kevin" is a 16-year-old student identified by an unnamed School District ("the District") as a student with a learning disability; he is also eligible for a Section 504 plan as a student with ADHD. He currently attends his local high school. He and his friends were in the hall of his high school when Kevin, on a dare from his…

In the context of science, teachers reported reluctance to teach students with special needs, a university science teacher educator decided there was a need to conduct practitioner-research in an undergraduate, elementary/middle level teacher preparation program. Two courses were investigated. The first course was a general pedagogy course…

Cites the example of a 4-year-old with Down syndrome attending an inclusive early childhood program to illustrate how the ecological assessment and planning process is used to individualize instruction. Includes a list of the child' IEP goals and objectives, a copy of the ecological planning form, and a description of adaptations and arrangements.…

Interviews with 17 key informants and surveys of 278 schools in Scotland explored policy and practices related to parent and student participation in the development and implementation of individualized educational programs (IEPs). While finding such participation desirable, education professionals did not agree on what constitutes participation,…

Before a child receives special education or related services, he or she must have an evaluation. The evaluation will help determine if a child needs special education. A parent or a member of the school staff may make the request for an evaluation. The child's parent must give consent in writing for the first evaluation. The evaluation will…

This article reports on starkly contrasting portraits of special education that the justices are sure to hear on the first day of the new U.S. Supreme Court term. In a case from New York City, the 1.1 million-student district argues that school officials made every attempt to provide an appropriate education plan under the federal Individuals with…

Students with special needs are increasingly taught in the least restrictive environment, which often means the general education classroom. Mainstreaming and inclusion provide the most appropriate education for each student in the least restrictive setting, considering the education needs of students rather than their clinical labels. A key…

Perhaps the most time consuming task facing today's busy special educator is keeping up with all the paperwork associated with national, state and local regulations. IEP Pro v.1-a PC and Macintosh compatible CD-ROM program-creates IEP's, then tracks and manages many of the administrative and paperwork tasks associated with running a special…

Discusses the purposes of student grades, including those driven by Individualized Education Programs. Grading options to ensure objectivity, fairness, and accountability for students with diverse needs are suggested. Types of tests available and possible adaptations are described. School districts are urged to create a grading policy that is…

Evidence from Arizona and other states demonstrates that children with disabilities lack equal access to charter schools. Charter school operators are avoiding potentially high-cost students and are unprepared to meet their needs. Charter schools need to strike cooperative resource-sharing arrangements with neighboring districts. States must…

Principles of planning for the transition of students with special needs into postsecondary educational programs include incorporation of postsecondary objectives into the secondary school individualized education program, use of the team approach, comprehensive program planning, interagency collaboration, and identification of resources and…

Proposes nine guidelines for school staff working with students who have special health care needs. The guidelines are child related, family related, and school related. Discussion of each guideline includes illustrations of issues arising from the guideline and considerations for implementing it. (SM)