Most definitions of emotionally disturbed youngsters suggest that disturbances in the child's behavior patterns cause academic and social problems which affect the child and his peers. While the process of identification may be facilitated by operational criteria within a definition, these factors are noticeably absent from definitions of…

The clamor around current hot topic phrases such as "equity through the standards" or "equal access for all" could not be more accurate when considering the statistics linked to exceptional student education (ESE) services. According to the National Center for Education Statics, as recently as SY15, only 69% of students with…

Employment preparation and life skill development are crucial in assisting students identified as having emotional and behavioral disabilities with successfully transitioning to adulthood following high school. This article outlines four initiatives that a school counselor developed with other school personnel to promote work skills, life skills,…

Miami-Dade County Public Schools (M-DCPS) has been at the forefront of integrating art therapy in schools since 1979, helping children with emotional/behavioral disabilities become more receptive to academic involvement while maximizing their social and emotional potential. This article describes the history, development, current configuration,…

This article describes an Escambia County, Florida, program that serves male, middle school, juvenile delinquents or adjudicated youth with disabilities. It describes the program's development, components, successes, and failures. It notes program eligibility, intake and orientation processes, social skills intervention, academic program, and the…

South Area Alternative School is a disciplinary center for conduct disordered adolescents in Broward County, Florida. The center is governed by a school-wide environmental structure so positive that negative behavior is met by appropriate consequences rather than punishment. The intake procedure includes a tour of the facility, discussion of…

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.…

The New Smyrna Beach Employability Skills Training Program in Florida offers emotionally and behaviorally disordered adolescents the opportunity to learn basic academic, social, employability, and business skills through participation in a school-based business that models an actual job site. Comparative data for suspensions, dropouts, and…