Analysis of transcripts of focus group interviews with 32 educators (general, special, administrators, related services, and instructional assistants) in 5 elementary schools identified 8 component areas of expressed training needs concerned with inclusion of students with disabilities. A training framework incorporating these areas was then…

Teachers can contribute to educational improvement by conducting classroom research concerning teaching and learning processes. Action research as staff development advances professional inquiry, improves education, and promotes teacher development. The article lists seven conditions necessary for the school environment for action research to…

Parents, community members, and school staff are involved in planning and staff development for systemic change in Columbus (Ohio) public schools. The model is site-based, data-driven, and school-specific. The article reviews effective schools features and program features, noting the success of the collaborative effort. (SM)

A statewide survey was conducted of 529 early-childhood special-education professionals' perceptions of education and intervention for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. Recommendations include preservice and/or inservice training for professionals, as well as fuller participation and leadership from the field of deaf education. (DB)

Provides a synopsis of classes developed by the Winona (Minnesota) Middle School media center to provide staff with current Internet skills. Includes navigation techniques using browsers; e-mail; search engines; selecting and evaluating Web sites; Internet ethics and Netiquette; critical evaluation of Web sources; graphics; interactive video…

Discusses the need for improved teacher training in the use of technology and considers the role of school media specialists. Topics include providing focused workshops on technology integration; promoting peer mentoring; partnerships with universities; using online staff development resources; and promoting technology in curriculum development…

This article describes a Maryland staff development program that guides educators through an improved Individualized Education Program (IEP) process that provides a better alignment of IEP goals with general education curricular outcomes. The program's components and the teachers' response to the program during the 1999-2000 year are discussed.…

This paper provides a glimpse of the current picture of education in rural Scotland. Scotland has many small schools, and not all of these are in geographically isolated areas. Although Scotland's population has decreased in the past 20 years, the decline has been mostly in urban areas. Remote areas are becoming more cosmopolitan as highly…

This paper presents principles for inclusion of students with disabilities in regular education classrooms, organized around the following aspects: inclusion versus mainstreaming, service delivery, planning and curriculum development, best practices, and training. Among the principles discussed are: students are members of age-appropriate general…

This videotape and viewing guide present an emerging learner-centered paradigm of teaching and learning and answer questions of why and how a staff changes its practices. The viewing guide describes the elementary school in the videotape, noting the full inclusion of 50 students identified as disabled, the team approach in which teachers are…

Promoting vocational gender equity in Wisconsin was the major goal of the Equity Leadership Project. The project provided technical assistance, coordination, training, and resources to 169 new and continuing projects in school districts throughout the state. In addition, the project coordinated the training of the Wisconsin Vocational Equity…

This text presents an approach to the teaching of students with learning disabilities which places teachers in the development phase of instruction rather than serving as implementors of "canned" curriculum. The thematic approach presented allows the current curriculum of any school or school system to be adapted to the needs of students. It…

This paper describes a project in North Carolina which has prepared more than 45 qualified individuals to serve students with low-incidence disabilities over the last five years. An additional 75 persons are currently scholars in the training program, and it is anticipated that more than 120 persons will complete the program by June of 2000. This…

This brief paper describes an innovative training project, the Augmentative, Assistive, and Facilitated Communication project, designed to enhance the capacity of school personnel to use alternative communication strategies with children having severe communication impairments. The project has provided training and technical assistance to school…

The original Foxfire program evolved into the Foxfire Teacher Outreach program during the 1980s, providing an approach to classroom instruction applicable to all content areas and grade levels. It is a student-centered, hands on, community-based generally for 2 weeks in the summer. Teacher networks are test-driven). The Foxfire Course for Teachers…