In this article, we describe the self-directed change made by a rural elementary school in response to a data-based examination of its service-delivery model that revealed its lowest performing students were spending most of their time with the school's least qualified staff. This mixed-method case study describes (a) why and how the school…

One of the foremost challenges for K-12 teachers is to provide relevant learning experiences in an environment of increasing accountability and student diversity. This balance is particularly consequential for students with disabilities who rely on special and general education teachers to ensure access to and success within the general…

Although there has been sizable growth in the number of empirical studies of shared forms of leadership over the past decade, the bulk of this research has been descriptive. Relatively few published studies have investigated the impact of shared leadership on school improvement. This longitudinal study examines the effects of distributed…

An evaluation paradigm which describes interagency coordination as a multidimensional (climate, resources, policies, people, and process), interactional, and developmental effort is presented for use in special education as a: training tool for those involved in coordination efforts; guide for developing and evaluating interagency coordination…

Urges transition teams to have stronger interaction with school counselors, who possess expertise in assessment and planning for success in post-school domain. A Transition Intervention Model for School Counselors is provided that offers possible systemic alternatives that facilitate access to counselor expertise within transition-team structures.…

This manual is designed to help schools in the development, implementation, and evaluation of activities that assist individuals with special needs in making vertical transitions from school to postsecondary training or employment and horizontal transitions between the school, home, and community. It presents, in section 1, a model that…

Two models of educational reform that address the dilemma in schools caused by the confluence of two current reform movements--school restructuring and the regular education initiative are presented in this paper. The models offer a more complex framework that considers teachers' values, the role of external support for teacher development, school…

The Education Cooperative (TEC) composed of nine contiguous Massachusetts towns (Dedham, Natick, Needham, Norwood, Walpole, Wayland, Wellesley, Weston, and Westwood) is exploring the possible development of a regional transportation system to serve the special education pupils within these communities. This report describes the planning required…

Project Interface was designed to bring together the two distinct fields of special education and vocational education in order to blend the efforts of the two fields to overcome several problems: differing vocabularies, methods, content, vocational evaluation, appropriate placement, teacher preparation, and the differing expectations of special…

This document is a directory of grants funded under the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS) Secondary and Transition Initiative. The volume begins with a description of the Federal Transition Initiative and the role of the Transition Institute of Illinois, and an overview of the information (including statistical data)…

Addresses the importance of family-school collaboration, with emphasis on the changing nature of families in the United States; the understanding and practice of collaboration wherein all of the parties are equal partners; exemplary family-school collaborative models; and implications for practitioners. (SM)

A model is described that utilizes collaboration between sending and receiving programs to support parents through the transition from infant intervention to public preschool special education programs. Included are a timeline for parent services, a parents' worksheet to develop their child's individualized education program, and a list of parent…

The concept and purpose of this facilitator guide is to provide the three facilitator groups of educators, park and resource management personnel, and parents of handicapped children with information on how to cooperatively design and implement an outdoor education program for handicapped students. Chapter 1 (contributed by Vicki Stayton) outlines…

Describes the Integrated Special Education-English Project (ISEP) which facilitated the gradual integration of special education and English teacher preparation programs. A description of the ISEP model and a case study are included. The case study indicated student teachers who participated in the ISEP improved special education and English…

This publication on planning to meet vocational needs is the fifth in the Self-Help series of five booklets designed for Alaska administrators and teachers to improve vocational services provided to handicapped pupils. It begins with a checklist of implications for administrators and teachers. These discussions and/or materials are provided: (1)…