This report was commissioned by the Council of Exceptional Children (CEC) Board of Directors and a workgroup comprising seven special education researchers (Bryan Cook, Chair; Virginia Buysse; Janette Klingner; Tim Landrum; Robin McWilliam; Melody Tankersley; and Dave Test) who developed, vetted, and piloted the new standards for determining…

Twenty-three special education teachers were asked to differentiate between practices for spelling instruction which do and do not have adqequate empirical support and to report on the extent to which they employed various instructional practices in teaching spelling. Outcomes suggest that special educators may have several misconceptions…

Reports on the initial results of a four-year longitudinal study of the model used by the Juniper Gardens Children's Project, which was designed to make research more trustworthy, useful, and accessible. The successful collaboration between the University of Kansas researchers and eight local inner-city elementary schools in Kansas City is…

This article summarizes and analyzes 43 pieces of professional literature pertaining to paraprofessional supports for students with disabilities published between 1991 and 2000. The findings identify topical gaps in the literature, review the major data based findings, and present implications for the field. Suggestions for future research stress…

Reflects on the motivating conditions, goals, works, and aspirations of the Juniper Gardens Children's Project (JGCP). The JGCP was established in 1964 to break the intergenerational cycle of poverty of a 10-square-mile urban area in Kansas City, Kansas, by improving developmental and educational experiences within the community. (CR)

This paper contrasts research knowledge and practice knowledge in special education; describes factors that moderate the influence of research on practice, including teacher knowledge and learning, teacher attitudes and beliefs, and context; and considers issues in reconceptualizing the relationship between research and practice in special…

This article reviews sustainability of research-based practices and the extent to which it is reasonable to assume that educators can or should sustain practices over time. Facilitators for sustainability are discussed and include teacher input and a feeling of collaboration, sensitivity, and responsiveness between the researcher and the…

A winner of the Council for Exceptional Children Research Award reflects on the enabling effect of a supportive context for research, lessons learned relating to career successes and failures, and the value of applied research. The need develop a program of long-term research is discussed. (Contains references.) (CR)