Discriminatory discipline practices in the nation's schools disproportionately impact students of color; students with emotional, behavioral, and cognitive disabilities; and youth who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and questioning (LGBTQ). Large numbers of these students are removed from class, lose opportunities to learn, and…

A review of existing special education training models is presented along with a rationale for preservice training in the transdisciplinary team process. The transdisciplinary process is described, and recommendations for implementation of a transdisciplinary training program in special education teacher preparation are given. (Author/JDD)

The Teaching Research Transition Planning Project (Oregon) is implementing and evaluating the development of school/community teams to facilitate transition of handicapped students into the community. Preliminary evaluation results support the value of an outside stimulus to encourage collaboration, locally generated plans, and policy decision…

This paper first compares Vermont's old Individualized Education Plan (IEP) which was designed primarily to insure legal compliance with the new family-centered IEP. It then describes the new IEP. Vermont's new family-centered IEP process emphasizes increased collaboration, reduced paperwork, and legal compliance. Three questions serve as a focus…

This report describes a pilot program of the New South Wales (Australia) Department of Education to develop community transition teams as part of an effort to provide transition education to people with disabilities. The project is based on a model developed in Oregon and stresses assisting each community to work cooperatively to assess local…

This project was designed to develop instructional materials to prepare teachers of students with disabling conditions and other professional personnel to assume responsibilities as classroom managers and supervisors. The first two parts of the manual, for policy makers, administrators, and staff developers, contain: (1) information about the…

An exploratory study was conducted on the implementation of Part H of Public Law 99-457, with emphasis on the involvement of health care providers. A series of 10 focus group discussions were held with health professionals (mostly nurses and physicians) in five states (Colorado, Hawaii, Maryland, North Carolina, Ohio). These health care providers…

This literature-based paper attempts to delineate the role of various groups in controlling special education in public schools. The paper argues that historically education has been a local matter, but contemporary interpreation tends to view education as a societal issue, a view which provides the impetus for education to become a state function…

This policy statement clarifies the role of the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team in selecting individual accommodations, modifications in administration, and alternate assessments for state and district-wide assessments. It states that neither the state education agency (SEA) nor the local education agency (LEA) can limit the authority…

This report is the result of a year-long evaluation of special education in New York City (New York) and presents major recommendations for reorganizing general and special education. It proposes a school-based model with an integrated general/special education system, and use of an enrichment allocation from merged special and general education…