Discusses how preservice and inservice teachers can promote a more equitable learning environment. The article describes how teachers can examine their own values and beliefs, discusses stereotyping, offers strategies for reflecting on self-awareness, and presents strategies for providing more equitable instruction for all students. (SM)

This paper examines coercive egalitarianism as it relates specifically to gifted education. Deliberate underachievement is seen to result from this egalitarianism which has arisen as a result of overriding concerns with creating equity among students. Additionally, envy by other students results in their attempting to compromise those advantages…

School leaders are expected to transcend the confines of conventional instruction and implement effective measures to serve the growing population of language-minority students. Understanding students' backgrounds and needs for belonging, health care, and educational success is essential. Strategies for learning, avoiding stereotypes, and…

Papers presented at this conference relate to redefining conceptual and program parameters for educating handicapped children and serving handicapped young persons previously unserved or underserved by the public schools. The papers address critical issues, legislation and litigation, program implications, and program practices. (Author/MLF)

Educational opportunity is often based on standardized testing and normative educational structures, which can perpetuate labeling and inequality. Rather than force students to conform to fixed expectations and models, schools must assure the delivery of educational services to all students through individualized instruction and alternative…

Five papers discuss issues arising from the Minority Issues Inservice Program, a program to provide inservice training to teachers dealing with minority handicapped children in mainstreamed or other special education settings. The first paper, by C. Greenwood, describes activities of each of the three years of the ongoing program including…

The purpose of the annual leadership conferences is to establish a continuing forum to stimulate dialogue among special education leadership personnel from the public schools, university training programs, and state education agencies. A critical factor in the selection of topics was the recognition that leaders in the field must design their…

Results of the "A Study of Schooling" survey indicate that the practice of tracking in secondary schools makes it difficult for schools to achieve either academic excellence or equality of educational opportunities. Tracking, furthermore, forces schools to perpetuate social and economic inequalities. Eight footnotes are appended. (IW)

"Mainstreaming" is defined as a program whereby handicapped children are placed in regular classrooms for all or part of the school day, with steps taken to see that their special needs are satisfied within this arrangement. Key court decisions are cited because the implications of mainstreaming for contemporary education can be properly…

Examines the etiology, critiques, and alternative paradigms of the "at-risk" label, noting ways in which the use of that label is racist, classist, and paternalistic. The term "at risk" has become a cliche in some professional and public cultures which does a disservice to many children, families, and groups. (SM)

Ontario, Canada's grassroots movement toward integrating disabled students harmonizes with governmental intentions to reduce costs while preserving student rights and accountability. However, decentralized, market-driven models hamper equity. More students are labelled exceptional, schools target privileged enrollees, minority students lack…

Changes in the population of children served as educable mentally retarded (EMR) in the public schools are examined. The term "new" refers to children currently classified as EMR, in contrast to children classified as EMR in the late 1960s, predating court actions challenging the criteria for EMR eligibility. "New" EMRs have an IQ of 50-75, while…

Faults of special education include its medical view of disability, its arbitrary division of students into handicapped and nonhandicapped, and the resultant separation between general and special education. Disabled adults are becoming less tolerant of an educational system that fails to recognize the capabilities of handicapped students.…

With new knowledge and tools at their disposal, educators at all levels are exploring alternatives to ability grouping in order to improve schooling for all students. Bringing about positive results requires the development and utilization of knowledge about how ability grouping affects schools, exploration of beliefs that support grouping, and…

Preceded by preteleconference activities, this teleconference examines the definitions, history, assumptions, and consequences of tracking as well as barriers to change, restructuring responses to literacy and learning difficulties, effective alternatives to tracking, and specific grouping strategies. The following documents are included: "Keeping…