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…

This article measures the effectiveness of Kentucky Teacher Academy (KTA). Twenty-one teachers attended the week-long seminar. While attending KTA, they received a stipend and also earned continuing education credit. Teachers of the visually impaired and science teachers received priority, on the basis of the generally accepted practice of…

The "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" examines what is arguably the single most powerful authority over the teaching profession: state government. This Kentucky edition of the National Council on Teacher Quality's (NCTQ's) "State Teacher Policy Yearbook" is the first of what will be an annual look at the status of state policies…

A distance-learning personnel-preparation course on transdisciplinary services for students with low incidence disabilities was developed through collaboration among four Kentucky institutions of higher learning. The course, "Transdisciplinary Services to Students with Deafblindness and Other Multiple Disabilities," was delivered to…

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…

The need for more interdisciplinary training for professionals who deliver services to students with multiple disabilities was examined in a survey of 50 occupational therapists, 50 physical therapists, 50 speech-language pathologists and 50 teachers in clinical or educational settings in Kentucky. The survey found a need for interdisciplinary…

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…

Describes a Kentucky program designed to train special-education personnel in moderate/severe-disabilities and early-childhood special education. The model used satellite, compressed video, and on-site delivery systems; support services from the university, state, and federal governments, and various methods of team teaching. Program effectiveness…

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…

Described in this report are the findings from a Kentucky state-wide study of the perceptions of vocational educators, special educators, and vocational rehabilitation workers concerning vocational programming for the handicapped. Numerous tables depict and compare agency ratings regarding the importance and present status of the following…

This project analyzed results of 16 focus group interviews with 144 special and regular education teachers concerning inclusive education of students with disabilities, including their concerns, obstacles they had encountered, effective strategies, inservice training they found helpful, suggestions for addressing inclusion in teacher preparation…

The philosophical, legal, moral, economic, and empirical bases supporting educating teachers to teach both typically and atypically developing infants, toddlers, and preschoolers and to work with their families are presented. Content for such integrated teacher education curricula and certification standards are recommended. Efforts by…

This report summarizes a survey of program organizational models used by 50 school districts in Kentucky to provide services to gifted and talented students. Models included: the pull-out model, self-contained classrooms, the cluster model, extra-school or after school programs, advanced placements, mentorships, and academic teams. Following a…