The National Association for Sport and Physical Education (NASPE) is an advocate for having highly qualified physical education teachers deliver developmentally appropriate, standards-based instruction in schools. However, a comprehensive definition of what constitutes a highly qualified physical education teacher did not exist until recently.…

Are community colleges as institutionally underprepared for underprepared students as these students are for college-level work? With increasingly diverse student populations, unstable funding, and a broad mission statement, there is no question that underprepared students are a significant challenge for community colleges. Learning to listen to…

Coteaching benefits both students and teachers, and the benefits grow as coteaching relationships mature. Effective coteaching relationships often evolve in stages (Gately & Gately, 2000), and coteachers can take steps to help their relationships flourish (Cramer, 2006). Drawing on the practices of successful coteaching teams, this article offers…

As more and more schools adopt school-wide positive behavior support (SWPBS) as a model for school improvement and the success of initial demonstration sites becomes evident, districts are faced with expansion and sustainability issues. Careful planning of these implementation efforts requires district personnel to be familiar with the resources…

Position statements of the American School Counselor Association were prepared for school counselors to assist them in articulating the position of the Association on a variety of issues. The statements included here present the position followed by a brief rationale. The statements have been developed and written by a number of people over the…

This digest presents a reprint of an article which addresses the issue of the rights of computer software owners to duplicate materials. A conservative approach to software copyright is taken which looks to how the law will likely be interpreted, rather than waiting for the definitive decision by a court. Three major issues involved with software…

The article presents an overview of the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities, the organizations it represents, its history, its mission statement, a listing of its position papers, and the process by which it operates and takes positions. (DB)

Suggests that careless use of technical terms has resulted in misunderstandings and less precise communication. Defines position, job, occupation, career, and vocation, providing illustrations of each, to help professionals communicate more effectively with their clients and with each other. (JAC)

The position statement reviews the historical background of career development for exceptional students, the Council for Exceptional Children's (CEC's) current position on the topic, and ideal conditions for career development. Suggestions are offered, both in terms of general considerations that can lead to specific activities and specific…

The official position statement and guidelines of the National Council for the Social Studies concerning the teaching of religions in elementary and secondary social studies classrooms is presented. (RM)

Once upon a time, storytelling was the medium through which people learned their history and came to make sense of their world. But after the invention of the written word, oral storytelling was foolishly cast aside and the respect for storytelling as a tool of learning was almost forgotten. This position statement by the Committee on Storytelling…

Problems with the current definition of learning disabilities (LD) include its misinterpretation, failure to recognize the developmental nature of LD, and lack of statement about etiology. The definition offered by the National Joint Committee on Learning Disabilities is presented. (CL)

Counters Lane and Pearson's assertion ("Merrill-Palmer Quarterly," v28, n3, p317-37, 1982) that younger children are less selective than older children because they are less able to inhibit responses to irrelevant stimuli. Suggests that increased efficiency in stimulus selection is associated with increased stimulus differentiation and…

The draft resolution to be considered by the United Nations states that the purpose of criminal justice systems is to serve, protect, and promote the common good by minimizing harmful encroachments on human rights. It encourages nations to discount the stereotype that punishment is the best way to respond to crime. (SK)

The Southern Regional Education Board (SREB) follows education budgets and legislation during regular and special legislative sessions. The Legislative Reports follow education and budget issues from governors' proposals through final legislative actions in each of the 16 SREB states. The reports include bill numbers and legislative Web site…