Practical information for parents of children with learning disabilities (LD) is presented in a workbook format. Guidelines for effective parenting of LD children are interspersed between checklists and other forms for record keeping, observations, and planning. After a chapter outlining the basic facts about learning disabilities, a chapter is…

This policy brief addresses the issue of issue of whether or not current federal funding policy under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) should be changed from an identification system to an overall population-based system. The current federal funding policy is described, in the context of the legislative history of IDEA.…

This study explored the nature and extent of programs and services available for culturally diverse and economically disadvantaged gifted learners. Data were gathered through a questionnaire survey of directors of gifted programs in 49 states and territories and a questionnaire survey of 51 local school districts that have active programs for…

In response to Senate Concurrent Resolution 83, the Texas Education Agency studied methods for screening all students upon entry to school for significant developmental lags that could lead to learning disabilities. The resulting report includes: (1) identification of screening techniques; (2) methods currently in use and validated for treatment…

Part of a national research project, this study of students at risk involved elementary and high school pupils in the El Paso (Texas) area. Investigators sought answers to questions concerning the identity and characteristics of at-risk students, and school intervention programs and their effectiveness. Data were gathered on 296 students in three…

This report summarizes the Early Childhood Assessment Project, which attempted to clarify issues confronting policy makers in early childhood special education through documentation of current practices, in-depth investigation of alternative approaches, and examination of predicted social, political, economic, and educational impact of alternative…

A basic technical framework is provided for the design and use of mastery tests. The Mastery Testing Project (MTP) prepared this framework using advanced mathematics supplemented with computer simulation based on real test data collected by the South Carolina Statewide Testing Program. The MTP focused on basic technical issues encountered in using…

In 1982, the Maryland State Department of Education initiated a longitudinal study of its Extended Elementary Education prekindergarten program. The study was designed to examine the school performances of program participants and members of a comparable nonpreschool group. At the time of this analysis, study participants were 16 years of age.…

This guide provides statistical information concerning services to handicapped children provided by the public schools of South Carolina in 1986-87. Statewide data are reported on the number of teachers and students by category of handicapping condition and program model (self-contained, resource room, itinerant, and other). In addition, data for…

Family issues are the main focus of this document, one in a series of seven bibliographies dealing with rehabilitation of disabled Native Americans. The 23 annotated entries were identified through a comprehensive search of relevant data bases covering the years 1966-1986 and were selected to be of use to consumers, policy makers, direct service…

The Functional Ability Rating Scale (FARS) is an instrument developed by local direct service workers in the field of human services to provide an objective measure of an individual's degree of limitation in seven areas of major life activity (MLA). The subject's level of functioning is assessed in Self-Care, Language and Communication, Learning…

This collection of papers examines contemporary issues and problems in bilingual special education. The first paper, by Lizette A. Cantres, discusses Federal and State laws and regulations related to bilingual special education, with respect to litigation in the case of "Jose P." The problems of assessment of bilingual children under a…

Contents of this paper focus on various ideas about caring and on the genesis of caring in the human individual. In the first section the concept of caring is analyzed from four perspectives: (1) the conception of caring as being biologically determined, (2) sociocultural and transcendental conceptions of caring, (3) cognitive, affective, and…

Forestry is the main focus of this fifth booklet in the series "101 Environmental Education Activities" by the Upper Mississippi River ECO-Center. Designed for students in the intermediate grades and junior high school, the booklet contains 9 science and social studies activities and 5 interdisciplinary activities. Most activity…

This primer is an introduction to item response theory (also called item characteristic curve theory, or latent trait theory) as it is used most commonly--for scoring multiple choice achievement or aptitude tests. Written for the testing practitioner with minimum training in statistics and psychometrics, it presents and illustrates the basic…