The document includes two questionnaire/survey instruments, one completed by 36 pupil appraisal personnel (e.g., psychologists, social workers, physical therapists, nurses) and the other completed by 38 child search coordinators as part of a study designed to evaluate the quality and efficiency of early education programs serving handicapped…

The concept of social representations, which was developed by Moscovici in 1984, suggests new ways of understanding the social processes that underlie communication between individuals. A social representation is a set of concepts, statements, and explanations originating in daily life in the course of inter-individual communication. The purpose…

Six new forms of Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) were developed. These new forms were equated to a standard reference test, ASVAB 8a, using normative data based on a 1980 weighted probability sample of American youth, ages 18-23. Equating allows the services to report the distributions of examinee ability on a common metric or…

This handbook concerns the victimization of children, community awareness of child abuse, what Texas law demands of educators, in-service training on child abuse and neglect, and implementing anti-victimization programs for children. The victimization of children is discussed in terms of four basic types of victimization, facts and myths about…

A 1982 study revealed that American Indians comprise .8% of public school students, but only .3% of those participating in gifted programs, whereas respective White figures are 73.3% and 82%. Factors contributing to the inappropriateness of standardized assessment tools for identification of gifted American Indian students are neglect of…

This paper presents a model and some empirical research on the process of ethnic identity development beyond childhood. Several models of ethnic identity development among minorities share with Erikson the idea that an achieved identity is the result of an identity crisis, which involves a period of searching that leads to a commitment. In order…

The paper, originally given at a 1986 Ethnic and Multicultural Symposium, reports the results of a series of studies on the identification and placement of limited English proficient (LEP) Hispanic students. Research findings relate to the referral, assessment, and placement of LEP students in programs for the learning disabled, mentally retarded,…

Detailed case studies are presented of six local education authorities (LEAs) in England and Wales which participated in the Screening and Special Educational Provision Project, a project focusing on the estimated 18 percent of the primary school population who have mild learning difficulties in basic skills. Each LEA's approach to special needs…

A 1981-1982 final evaluation report of the Child Find/Serve Project and related services required by P.L. 94-142 in San Antonio, Texas, is presented. The contents of the report are as follows: the evaluator's interpretive summary, summaries of the accomplishment of objectives, additional findings, and substantiating documentation. The brief…

Changes in the population of children served as educable mentally retarded (EMR) in the public schools are examined. The term "new" refers to children currently classified as EMR, in contrast to children classified as EMR in the late 1960s, predating court actions challenging the criteria for EMR eligibility. "New" EMRs have an IQ of 50-75, while…

The paper proposes changes from the present categorically based special education service delivery system to a curriculum-based service delivery system. Set forth are problems currently associated with designating students as learning disabled (LD), distinguishing them from those who are simply underachievers or have other handicapping conditions,…

Popular sentiment toward the teaching of thinking skills and, in particular, higher order skills, is on the rise. Many people are wondering about the best way for teachers to foster the growth of reasoning skills in their classrooms. This study attempts to improve the teaching of reasoning by investigating teaching behaviors or characteristics…

A competency-based approach to gifted education is presented which recognizes the importance of developing teaching approaches to meet the needs of individual children. The paper begins with a definition of giftedness and talent and a description of parameters in the planning and design of a curriculum for gifted pupils. Four differentiation…

Described is a K-12 integrative arts program of the Schmerenbeck Educational Centre, Johannesburg, South Africa, designed to help gifted and talented children develop an understanding of the nature of creative thinking as expressed through different art forms. The report discusses how the program defines talent; how gifted students are identified…

Assumptions concerning the American education system and its social structure and implications for blacks are discussed, and a Frostburg State College program that addresses academic and cultural retention issues for black students is described. This program, the Best System, includes features such as: offering black cultural history; using…