The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 1990 stresses procedural safeguards regarding special education identification, placement, or services. Reviewed a sample of Illinois due process appeal decisions and concluded that the system appears to be serving Illinois educators and parents reasonably well. (20 references) (MLF)

A study of 73 families of children (ages 3-29) with disabilities investigated what special educators could do to be more sensitive to family needs. Recommendations include listening to parents, developing effective communication among parents and professionals, increasing knowledge about disabilities, demonstrating sensitivity and respect, and…

This article discusses legal requirements for developing functional behavioral assessment and behavioral intervention plans, especially as they pertain to disciplinary actions. This discussion is followed by an outline of elements related to behavioral intervention planning with specific guidelines for school personnel who seek to put such plans…

A new teacher in a self-contained classroom for six kindergarten students with autism describes the challenges of beginning a new program in her school, planning instruction with the new state instructional standards in mind, being scrutinized by parents, and coordinating documentation of progress and development of Individualized Education…

Clarifies issues surrounding inclusion and describes the implementation of an appropriate educational program for an 11-year-old student with autism entering middle school. Discusses collaborative efforts of school staff, importance of shared leadership roles, adherence to appropriate due process, and analysis of the instructional environment in…

This article examines requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (1997) regarding participation of students with disabilities in state- and district-wide assessments and access to the general curriculum. It considers implications for change in school district procedures concerning evaluation and reevaluation, Individualized…

This article analyzes changes in Individualized Education Program (IEP) requirements under the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, implementation issues, and implications for FAPE (free and appropriate education) requirements. It suggests that, although these new requirements create increased opportunities for…

This article presents Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requirements on functional behavioral assessments (FBAs), describes the process of conducting an FBA, explains the legal requirements for developing measurable goals and benchmarks or short-term objectives, describes the development of a behavior intervention plan, and presents a…

When it comes to the legal fight over special education that they have waged for the past seven years, Jocelyn S. and Martin P. Schaffer and their Maryland school district don't agree on much. But the two sides do see eye to eye on this: With the U.S Supreme Court's decision to review the Schaffers' case, the dispute suddenly has the potential to…

The shortage of special education teachers is due in part to high attrition, especially among new entrants. Improving teacher retention and quality requires a holistic view of new teachers' needs, an understanding of the contexts in which they work, as well as the types of support that are needed. A leader's model highlights major considerations…

Provisions of special education law under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are many and complex. During the 2001-2002 school year over 48 million children in the United States, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico were enrolled in pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. Parents are becoming increasingly legally literate; the increased…

"Personalised learning" and the value of national assessment data in achieving it have been identified by the UK Secretary of State for Education and Skills as essential for raising educational standards. Employing multilevel analysis, this paper compares children's end of primary school (Key Stage 2) test scores with those they achieved…

This article explores three broad themes about transitions that have emerged in a naturalistic study of experiences of families with young children with disabilities. Generalizations regarding early transitions include families going through a birth crisis have difficulty understanding all the information they are provided. Not only is their role…

To support K-12 students with significant disabilities and get an accurate picture of their skills and knowledge, schools need to implement effective alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS). This is the guidebook every team should have--not only to develop successful AA-AAS linked with grade-level content standards,…

Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) "Special Education at a Glance." which includes a copy of the "Guide to Planning and Assessing School-Based Special Education Programs." provides in a single document, information about the special education population at each Montgomery County (Maryland) public school, including…