Introduction: Professionals working with infants and toddlers with visual impairments (that is, those who are blind or have low vision) were surveyed regarding their preservice training and their awareness and use of 29 resources related to young children who are visually impaired. Methods: Early intervention visual impairment professionals (n =…

The Education and Professional Standards Board (EPSB) is the governing organization for teacher certification in Kentucky. According to the EPSB (2013a), only three institutions of higher education in the state (i.e., Morehead State University, University of Kentucky, University of Louisville) offer an approved alternate certificate program in…

The purpose of the study was to examine the effects of special education and general education teachers working together to develop and implement story-based lessons on the academic engaged time of students with moderate intellectual disability and autism. A multiple probe across participants' design was used to measure teacher implementation of…

Teachers of students with moderate and severe disabilities must possess the skills and knowledge to address a unique set of needs and challenges. These may include, but are not limited to, management of challenging behaviors, performance of health-related procedures, use of assistive technology, and instruction using evidence-based strategies.…

A transition can be described as a change, a switch, a move, or a conversion to another place or frame of mind. Eastern Kentucky University (EKU) has implemented a transition project serving middle and high school students with disabilities. Each year, hundreds of students are provided with information and activities designed to stimulate their…

Preparing teachers for special education in the United States is a reflection that is not merely another attempt to reinvent the wheel. Rather, it is an investigation to learn from the past, use applications today in order to secure concrete and measurable goals in the diversified future of special education in America. Several historical figures…

Teacher retention has been of interest to educational researchers for over three decades. Various reasons for special education teacher attrition have been cited, including student discipline and motivation problems, working conditions, low salary, and a lack of administrator support. This descriptive survey research sought to determine the…

A study of 206 Kentucky special education teachers examined the amount of time required on alternative assessment. Results found teachers spend many hours outside of class time completing one portfolio. Instructional variables, such as the extent to which portfolio items are embedded into instruction, are strongly related to student scores.…

Describes a multi-university model for delivering a distance-learning special-education course by compressed video to eight undergraduate and graduate student sites in rural Kentucky. Evaluation indicated the model's effectiveness. Advantages and challenges of the approach are identified. (DB)

This study explored views and attitudes toward full inclusion and collaboration among 43 directors and coordinators of special education in randomly selected school districts in eastern Kentucky. Although both collaboration and full inclusion were in effect in parts of each school district surveyed, results showed that only about half of the…

This study of 98 special education teachers investigated the reasons for the high attrition of special education teachers in Kentucky. The participants were asked to give three reasons (in no more than one phrase) why in their opinion special education teachers leave special education and choose to teach general education. The most common reason…

A Kentucky project sought to identify teacher competencies and subsequent combinations of courses that could provide needed skills for special vocational teachers. Findings from the literature were combined with information from a national survey of state coordinators of special needs programs. Thirty-nine surveys were completed. Results showed…

This report of a survey of eight states which implemented the School to Work Opportunities Act (STWOA) provides information on provisions in the state plans, the extent to which special educators participate in planning and implementation efforts, and how the needs of students with disabilities have been addressed. An overview is provided of the…

This paper discusses the concepts of Human Resources Development (HRD), andragogy (adult learning), and transfer of training as factors to be considered when designing training for special education teachers in rural schools. A critical question facing HRD professionals who design and deliver inservice training for special education teachers in…

This monograph describes results of focus group interviews with 16 regular and special education teachers in Kentucky concerning their experience with including students with disabilities in regular education classrooms. An introduction notes the trend away from selective mainstreaming toward increased inclusion of students with disabilities in…