This article explores the process by which children attending mainstream UK primary schools can achieve social inclusion. It presents the findings from a systematic literature review, followed by empirical research, exploring the concept of social inclusion with particular regard to the experiences of pupils identified with SEND. The article draws…

This paper describes the development of an online training model for teachers and teaching assistants working with students with special educational needs. Originally developed as part of a government funded initiative in the UK, the model has been successfully applied in other contexts, most notably in New South Wales, Australia where it has had…

Rapid changes in Australian education have intensified the role of early childhood leaders and led to unprecedented challenges. The Australian Curriculum (ACARA, 2011), mandated Australian "National Quality Framework" (NQF) for Early Childhood Education & Care (DEEWR, 2010b) and the "National Early Years Learning Framework"…

Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) are being recognized globally for their influential role in realizing the UN Millennium Development Goal of education for all in developing countries. NGOs mostly employ untrained para-educators for grassroots activities. The professional development of these teachers is critical for NGO effectiveness, yet…

This paper describes the Child Development Associate (CDA) pilot program designed to establish an effective and economical system of training and credentialling for individuals working with preschool children. Candidates must be high school graduates, must have less than 40 college credit hours, and must be employed as an aide or a teacher in the…

Since there are large gaps between the culture, economy, and education of Native Americans and mainstream Americans, the recruitment and training of Native Americans as paraprofessionals in the schools appears to be a promising opportunity to deal with all three gaps simultaneously. Three model programs which are currently bridging these gaps with…

This paper describes a model providing a framework through which communities can work to meet the critical shortage of adequate quality child care facilities and services in rural as well as urban areas. This CETA program model, called the Fresh Start Approach, offers skills training and supportive services to economically disadvantaged women…

This report examines a grass-roots movement for teacher diversity and development: paraeducator pathways into teaching. The desire to recruit a more diverse pool of teachers for urban schools and critical shortage areas has spurned a renewed interest in paraprofessional career opportunity programs. The 149 paraeducator-to-teacher programs…

The Rural Aide Model is a proven, functional model in which an aide or para-professional is trained in the components of the Teaching Research Data Based Classroom Model and provides individual instruction, under the supervision of a certified teacher, to one or two children with handicapping conditions. Usually the instruction occurs within the…

To provide an introduction to a career in vocational teaching, a model developed in the Teacher Assistant Training Project at Clackamas Community College in Oregon is presented for recruiting, training, and placing technically competent community college students as teaching assistants to secondary school vocational education teachers. Project…

The geographic, enviornmental, and demographic conditions in Alaska create extreme difficulties for rural small school teachers who must cope with students with abilities ranging from gifted to retarded. Mainstreaming is taken for granted in Alaska where program development to aid rural teachers in providing special education services to their…

An educational research and demonstration program was implemented in learning centers at five correctional institutions across Missouri. Included in the demonstration project were the following programs: a prescriptive learning system that served 253 students; a program in attitude, basic, and life skills; an ex-offender program that involved 20…