Missed instruction can have a devastating impact on educational outcomes. Some reasons for missed instruction are beyond the control of schools and districts: some students miss school due to mental or physical illness or injury, and transportation problems sometimes are to blame. One major reason for missed instruction that schools can directly…

Inclusive teacher preparation varies greatly in format and practice, yet programs grapple with the same underlying challenges: which practices work and where do they work. As children with disabilities are increasingly being included in schools, it is essential that guidance is put into place on how best to adapt inclusive practices into the…

Developing positive school climates and improving school discipline policies and practices are critical steps to raising academic achievement and supporting student success. However, there is no single formula for doing so. Rather, the growing body of research and best practices in the field should inform locally developed approaches to improving…

The manual is intended to recommend policy guidelines for special educators and transporters of handicapped students. Beginning with a review of the requirements of P.L. 94-142 (The Education for All Handicapped Children Act) and a discussion of transportation as a related service provided to handicapped students, the manual proceeds to…

This policy digest reviews the current status of state level graduation policies and the inclusion of students with disabilities in more rigorous student accountability measures. The results of two surveys conducted by the Council of Chief State School Officers on the inclusion of students with disabilities in state level graduation requirements…

Respondents (n=297) to a national survey of school districts concerning homework policies found that 35.2% of school districts surveyed had a policy on homework, with 64.4% of those policies including modifications for students with disabilities. Findings on frequency and amount of homework assigned, as well as home-school communication…

The four P's of policy (philosophy, principles, procedures, and performance) are discussed within a framework for developing special needs policies in British schools. Elements of a special educational needs policy are listed, and examples of statements which might be included in a school's special needs policy are provided. (DB)

This paper explains forms of child abuse (neglect, emotional, sexual, and physical), outlines recommended school procedures for dealing with suspected child abuse in students with special educational needs, and emphasizes the need for increased teacher training and teacher action in reducing child abuse. (JDD)

Survey of state directors of special education in 50 states and District of Columbia gathered data on provision of extended school year (ESY) services to students with handicaps within legal framework of Public Law 94-142 and Section 504 of Rehabilitation Act of 1973. Recommendations are presented for development of ESY policy reflecting current…

The paper review Florida's use of the individualized education program (IEP) in addressing discipline issues with behaviorally disordered students. The impact of court rulings on school discipline policies and procedures are examined. IEP components and development are reviewed, and inclusion of disciplinary procedures in the IEP is considered.…

This paper reviews the literature which examines school policies currently guiding educational practice in the area of student substance abuse and discusses the relationship between special education and substance-using and substance-abusing students. Reviewed are: (1) definitions of substance abuse, which vary with the conceptualization of the…

The paper reviews policies of the state of Arkansas concerning high school graduation requirements and reports on a survey of individual school districts in Arkansas in regard to their policies concerning program modification, graduation requirements, and graduation documentation for secondary special education students. Data are presented for the…

The 3-year qualitative study evaluated high-school special education programs and their contributions to the transition of youth with disabilities. This report focuses on: the current status of programs for transition from school to adult life; program gaps as seen by administrators and practitioners; and reported priorities for program…

The study documents effective state and local policies in providing related services to handicapped children as required by PL 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act. The areas reviewed include those state policies which clarify education agencies' responsibilities, and those which increase the resources available for related…

This study examined the content and characteristics of state departments of education position or policy statements on inclusion for 17 state education agencies. Analysis revealed that such policy/position statements usually address the meaning of the term "inclusion," the philosophy of inclusion, laws and court decisions pertaining to inclusion,…