Two diametrically opposed beliefs are held concerning the meaning of the least restrictive environment (LRE) when determining the class placements of students with disabilities. One group adheres to the placement philosophy that the LRE is always the general education setting. The other group believes that the LRE is where the students' needs may…

The number of students identified under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) with an emotional disturbance (ED) has remained remarkably stable over the last 30 years. During this time, approximately 1% of the school-aged population has been identified as disabled under the criteria set forth in IDEA (Kim, Forness, & Walker,…

Intended for local school district and state education agency personnel, the resource manual provides a guide for placement committees to follow in fulfilling their responsibilities, especially in developing individualized education programs (IEPs) for handicapped children, and a guide for those responsible for training placement committees in…

This document has been developed by the New Jersey Department of Education with the assistance of the TA Customizer Project funded by the U.S. Department of Education Charter Schools Program (CSP) and conducted by the National Association of State Directors of Special Education (NASDSE). Its focus is on providing information and technical…

The manual sets forth New York state guidelines for referring and evaluating children suspected of having a learning disability (LD). Definitional issues comprise the first section, followed by sample characteristics of students with learning disabilities. Procedures for referrals are outlined. Placement decisions and decisions about services are…

The booklet is designed to help school administrators review and evaluate policies and procedures for facilitating communication with parents of handicapped children. Section 1 summarizes the due process provisions of P.L. 94-142 (the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) and discusses the role which interpersonal communication plays in…

This handbook is intended to assist Ohio educators in identifying students for placement in classes for individuals with severe behavior handicaps. The following topics are discussed: (1) definition of severe behavior handicapped, with examples and discussion of five characteristics and three qualifiers; (2) alternatives to referral, with examples…

Designed to assist service providers as they strive to provide a full service goal for all handicapped pupils, this manual consists of checklists for monitoring compliance with Public Law 94-142 (Education for All Handicapped Children Act). Checklists of components in general policy areas are: (1) policy requirements (LEAs - Local Educational…

This guide is intended to help Pennsylvania parents of preschool children with special needs to understand their rights and assist in the design of an appropriate early intervention preschool educational program. An overview of special education laws focuses on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B. The main sections of the guide…

This guide, in Spanish, is intended to help Pennsylvania parents of preschool children with special needs to understand their rights and assist in the design of an appropriate early intervention preschool educational program. An overview of special education laws focuses on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, Part B. The main sections…

Intended primarily for new teachers or teachers newly involved with special education, this guide to development of individualized education programs (IEPs) notes recent trends in special education including the shift from a categorical basis to a skill needs basis, the goal of maximum inclusion, greater involvement of regular educators and…

The guide is intended to be a practical tool for screening and identifying Wisconsin students suspected of being emotionally disturbed (ED). It contains information on the legal requirements for the identification and placement of ED students as well as the definition of emotional disturbance and techniques for screening and evaluation. Sample…

Designed as an informational resource and planning document, this manual assists administrators in ensuring that district special education programs are in compliance with federal and New York State laws and regulations and that handicapped students are educated appropriately. Because Article 89 of the Education Law and Part 200 of the Regulations…

Since the Education for All Handicapped Children Act now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) 2004 was first passed, states have been required to make available to students with disabilities a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). The LRE standard that each school district…

Intended for evaluation of local compliance with special education federal and state legal requirements, this compliance review document includes both the compliance requirements and the criteria by which compliance is determined during the onsite compliance review of Georgia local school systems and state-operated programs. Each legal requirement…