Identifies factors that inhibit the recruitment and retention of minority students in gifted education programs including screening and identification issues (definitions and instrumentation); educational issues (quality of students' education); and personnel issues (lack of teacher training in gifted and urban education, low teacher referral).…

In examining the issue of overrepresentation of minority students in special education, this article distinguishes between the percentage of category or program by group and percentage of group in category or program, which provide very different perspectives. Caution in interpreting data from the Office of Civil Rights relating "race/ethnicity"…

Reviews the continuing overrepresentation of African-American children and youth in special education programs for students with learning disabilities, severe emotional or behavioral disabilities, and mental disabilities. Uses a critical-theory model to examine how basic assumptions, world views, beliefs, and epistemologies serve to perpetuate…

Two cohorts of 3694 second-grade children were screened for emotional/behavioral disorders (EBD). Children were identified by using the current federally mandated definition and by also using an alternative definition that requires school and parent involvement in determining symptom presence. Most participants were identified by schools as…

Explores the dynamics of ethnic identity for a Hispanic population, paying particular attention to determinants of inconsistent ethnic identification. Finds that English monolingualism and attendance of schools with few Hispanic students are strongly associated with inconsistent identity; areas with larger Hispanic populations are associated less…

Describes a course for future teachers that focuses on understanding the multiple deaf identities and on practical approaches to using diversity as an opportunity for class growth. The teachers' own diversity and expertise is used in a continuous dialog across various methods. Samples of classroom dialogs are included. (Author/CR)

Investigates the effects of label, child's gender and race, child's educational placement, and availability of definitional information on prognostic judgments for children with behavior problems. Undergraduate students (N=363) enrolled in teacher education read a vignette and completed a prognostic outlook questionnaire. Results indicate a…

This introductory article describes following articles (EC 625 128-134) that address processes and issues related to offering care for children with swallowing disorders in the public school. Procedures for screening, assessing, and treatment, issues involved in establishing a dysphagia program in a school system, and legal and ethical issues are…

A study involving 257 Navajo and Mexican-American elementary students investigated the internal structure of the DISCOVER assessment, a performance-based assessment grounded in Gardner's theory of multiple intelligence. Results showed low interrating correlations among the five assessment activities, indicating students gifted in one intelligence…

This article describes the second edition of the Attention Deficit Disorders Evaluation Scale (ADDES II), an individually administered behavior rating scale developed to assist in the identification and service of children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorders. Its purpose, administration, interpretation of scores, standardization,…

This article explores factors leading to development of antisocial behavior in children and later negative outcomes including school failure, delinquency, and violence. Best practices in screening and early intervention for at-risk and antisocial children are identified. Recommendations are offered based on research-based practices, tools, and…

This article describes the relationship of federal, state, and local policy as it relates to early childhood special education policies. It describes the balance of power among the three levels of government and hypothesizes that efforts on behalf of young children need to be increasingly focused on local action. (Contains references.) (Author/CR)

This paper discusses assessment of autistic and deaf-blind children with such severe difficulties in communication that they are often labeled as untestable and subsequently misdiagnosed as severely to profoundly mentally retarded. It urges nonintrusive assessment and appropriate intervention as the most relevant procedures for helping this…

Interviews with 28 African-American eighth graders indicate that some African-American students with a high awareness of racial discrimination respond in ways that are conducive to academic success. Positive racial socialization was a primary success factor for these students. (SLD)

A study compared 365 Jamaican adolescents and 365 American adolescents (ages 12-18) on scores on the Child Behavior Checklists, Teacher's Report Form, and Youth Self-Report. Adolescents in both societies reported more problems than parents or teachers. Jamaican adolescents had higher ratings for the Withdrawn and Somatic Complaints syndromes.…