Disproportionate rates of suspensions and expulsions among racial/ethnic groups are a local, state, and national concern. Maryland has made significant progress in decreasing the use of exclusionary discipline, but there is substantial work left to do to move toward equity. Maryland has cut the use of exclusionary discipline practices by half in…

This Special Issues Brief from the Center on Great Teachers and Leaders (GTL Center) offers recommendations for the design and implementation of educator evaluation systems that support the academic and social growth of students with disabilities. Teachers of students with disabilities work closely with specialized instructional support personnel…

For lower-achieving students with disabilities, effective and appropriate alternate assessment based on modified achievement standards (AA-MAS) can open the door to greater expectations and opportunities. State policymakers have the option of providing certain students who have disabilities with AA-MAS aligned with grade-level content--and now…

Some states are developing alternate assessments based on modified achievement standards (AA-MAS) to measure the academic achievement of some students with disabilities (Albus, Lazarus, Thurlow, & Cormier, 2009; Lazarus, Thurlow, Christensen, & Cormier, 2007). These assessments measure the same content as the general assessment for a given…

The two bibliographies contains citations to materials available in the library of the Birth to Three Clearinghouse (Illinois) concerning issues on personnel preparation and program evaluation. The 36 citations on personnel preparation and the 46 citations on program evaluation are arranged alphabetically by author and cover the years 1978 to…

The paper addresses issues in special education program evaluation. Introductory information examines the mandate for state monitoring under P.L. 94-142, The Education For All Handicapped Children Act, and reviews state monitoring approaches undertaken in Nebraska, Missouri, and North Carolina. A nine-step procedure designed to help policymakers…

The report examines effective state monitoring policies in the education of handicapped children. Following a review, in part I, of the mandate in P.L. 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act, for state education agency (SEA) monitoring, part II identifies SEA policies to monitor the quality of educational programs (Nebraska,…

Four papers address approaches to evaluate the implementation of the individualized education program (IEP) provisions of P.L. 94-142, The Education for All Handicapped Children Act. The papers are "Auditing the IEP System: A Self-Audit System for Use by Local Education Agencies" by Beth Stephens and Daniel Macy, which examines a 10-step…

Four papers focus on implementation of protection in evaluation procedures (PEP) specified in P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. Each of the authors commissioned to develop guidelines in PEP are represented: Reginald Jones ("Protection in Evaluation Procedures: Criteria and Recommendations"); Jane Mercer…

This paper notes the need for an empirically based model for helping students with disabilities make transitions toward less restrictive settings and exit special education. Emphasis is on defining the least restrictive environment, identifying students with mild disabilities who are potential candidates for reintegration, assessing the…

The article presents a cooperative interagency approach for assessing effectiveness of programs and services to facilitate the transition of handicapped students from school to adult community living. Features of the model include cooperative planning at the policy level, implementation level, and direct service level; and collaboration by state…

This report is a summary of a March 1994 meeting to agree on guidelines for making inclusion and accommodation decisions concerning students with disabilities in national and state large-scale assessments. Much of the discussion at the meeting focused on the National Assessment of Educational Progress. Factors that lead to the exclusion of…

The report summarizes 1983 Amendments to the Education of the Handicapped Act. The Amendments extend authorization for federal activities relating to the evaluation component, incentive grant program, and discretionary programs including regional resource centers, centers and services for the deaf-blind, the early childhood program, postsecondary…

This technical assistance document provides guidelines for child assessment and eligibility determination for early intervention and early childhood special education programs in Oregon. An overview of the assessment process explains screening, eligibility evaluation, and assessment for the Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP). Legal requirements…

The booklet presents 36 policy statements related to the provision of educational services to exceptional children in Ontario. These policy statements are updated versions of 31 statements formulated in 1973. The statements cluster in six major areas (sample subtopics in parentheses): (1) goals and commitments to the education of exceptional…