This article analyzes four federal court cases dealing with the use of reductive interventions to manage the behaviors of behaviorally disordered students in public schools. Definitions and principles of corporal punishment, suspension, expulsion, and timeout are outlined; and the legal status of these punishment procedures is explained.…

This article focuses on current theories and practices in educating students with behavioral disorders, including the intrapsychic, psychoeducational, and structured/behavioral models. The history of the field is reviewed and a practical way of viewing behavior from a theoretical perspective is offered, with examples connecting theory and…

This "White Paper" examines issues surrounding the assessment of culturally diverse learners for behavioral disorders, and argues for use of a more functional assessment approach. The paper also points out that many facets of the functional assessment perspective already exist in two recent educational movements--pre-referral…

Conversations with state department representatives in four Midwestern states produced a discussion of trends and commentary on the status of state definitions of behavioral disorders/emotional disturbance, as well as identification practices and procedures. Among concerns expressed are the need to be more systematic in gathering behavioral data.…

The five major characteristics of emotional disturbance identified in Public Law 94-142 are used as the framework for a review of research on childhood depression. Among characteristic behaviors are poor school performance, negative feelings about self that are reflected in difficulty with interpersonal relationships, and sleep disturbances. (JW)

Recent court decisions concerning discipline of handicapped students are reviewed. The courts have not interpreted the Education for All Handicapped Children Act as unduly inhibiting traditional school discretion concerning minor infractions, but the legal intricacies of determining the relationship between handicap and misconduct makes expulsion…

This paper reviews science education research conducted with students having behavioral disorders. Both textbook-based approaches and activities-based approaches were found. Guidelines for teaching science to this population are provided, such as making participation in desirable activities contingent upon appropriate behavior and providing…

This paper discusses different formats of peer tutoring, focusing on uses of peer tutoring with students with behavior disorders. While cross-age, small group, one-to-one, classwide, and reverse-role peer tutoring have all been found to produce social and academic benefits, none appears to benefit students' self-esteem. (Author/PB)

This article analyzes research on children's perceptions of emotional and behavioral difficulties. Virtually all studies concur that peers hold negative views of externalizing behavior problems. Findings suggest that professionals need to target peer-identified behavioral and social skill goals and develop programming aimed at normalization to…

Classroom applications and implications of Kantor's field model and the concept of "setting events" for students with behavioral disorders are discussed, with attention to: current methods of assessing the effects of setting events on students' behavioral problems, methods for intervening in setting events, and research issues for assessment and…

This article reviews the literature on children prenatally exposed to drugs and alcohol, the potential impact on the educational and social services systems, and implications for programing for children identified as behaviorally disordered. (Author/JDD)

This paper discusses the assessment of psychiatric and behavior disorders occurring in people with developmental disorders and the problems arising when such behavior results in offenses against the law. The paper argues that a multidisciplinary approach is needed in such cases, given the complex interaction among possible brain pathology,…

This article chronicles the development of level systems designed for students with significant behavior problems, to foster student improvement through self-management and positive reinforcement. The article examines assumptions underlying level systems' concepts and components and offers recommendations to guide future research into the design…

This article reviews research indicating that teachers' behavior is negatively affected by disruptive and aggressive responses of students with emotional/behavior disorders. It presents strategies to reduce classroom aversiveness, to reduce students' need to escape or avoid instruction through aggressive or disruptive responses, and thereby…

Presents the negative-reinforcement paradigm as a framework with potential to guide development of interventions that increase desirable and decrease undesirable behaviors of students with disabilities. Studies involving children with emotional and behavioral disorders are presented to convey the importance of teachers' awareness of the paradigm's…