This paper looks at trends toward more inclusive education for students with disabilities in Sweden in the context of budgetary cut-backs in school resources. It reports on a project that investigated processes of defining target populations for special education in Swedish schools. Special educators (N=27), classroom teachers (N=35) and…

This paper reports on the perceptions of West Virginia teachers and administrators regarding the effectiveness of individual education plans (IEPs) in guiding discipline decisions for students with disabilities. Telephone interviews were conducted with 141 regular and special education teachers and administrators in all 55 West Virginia counties.…

The annual review of the activities of the Colorado Commission for Achievement in Education found that the primary focus of the Commission's activities during 1996 was a study of graduate education, and to this end a task force on graduate research and education was created to study issues related to current basic and applied research at graduate…

A 3-year research and development project examined ways to improve the retention of special education teachers in the Memphis (Tennessee) City Schools. Several individual studies identified sources of dissatisfaction with teaching and the conditions that would encourage career longevity among teachers. Responses from 470 special education and…

This guidebook offers practical advice to support special education teachers in their first year of teaching. The first chapter, "Getting Ready To Teach," outlines preparations necessary before school begins, such as organizing the classroom and establishing planning and record-keeping strategies. "Tips for the Classroom" lists what teachers…

The shortage of qualified special educators in Louisiana is critical, particularly in rural areas. Factors contributing to this shortage include low teacher salaries, reduction of tuition exemption for teachers taking certification courses, and higher tuition costs. University training programs must assist teachers in developing necessary…

A portfolio assessment process was implemented in the Special Education Division of Central Washington University's teacher education program. The portfolio assessment was designed as an "end of major" assessment with three goals: provide a continuous assessment of the program of studies, determine the quality of program graduates, and…

This manual, together with the continuing education or inservice teacher workshops for learning the Systematic Integrated Teaching/Learning Approach (SITLA), can help teachers use different approaches to work effectively with a population of adults 18 years and older who are enrolled in special education classes, college-based developmental skills…

This paper outlines the need to diversify the education profession at practitioner, administrative, and personnel preparation levels in order to better serve culturally and linguistically diverse children with disabilities. Needs identified include developing effective recruitment and retention programs for members of ethnic minority groups;…

This conference was held to enhance communication between the Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) and State education agency staffs, and to furnish information and technical assistance to State agencies in the areas of data management and improvement of data reliability, validity, and comparability. Abstracts of presentations include the…

The National Rural Independent Living Network, funded to Murray State University (Kentucky) by the National Institute of Handicapped Research, is developing Community Independent Living Service Delivery Systems (CILSDS) for rural people with disabilities which will be housed in over 500 communities by early 1986. The CILSDS, staffed by citizen…

A brief description is provided of ways in which vocational programs have been modified for handicapped students at Portsmouth High School (New Hampshire). Examples are: (1) regular vocational programs with support services and modification curriculum; (2) special vocational programs in which pre-vocational entry level skills are developed prior…

Does personality impact differently on occupational choice and occupational performance? In a study of established teachers, interests, the Five-Factor Model, and attributions were examined in relation to occupational choice and performance. Attributions were assessed using a new instrument designed for teachers. Choice of teaching specialty was…

This document is a monograph in a personnel development series addressing issues that are pertinent for policy-making personnel concerned with inservice personnel development of vocational/special educators. Chapter 1 addresses the state of the art in inservice education and includes a definition and information on legislative provisions, the…

This article illustrates the collaborative team process for inclusion as it grew within two schools attempting to improve their efforts to welcome students with disabilities into general education classrooms. Team members learned specialized skills needed for successful collaboration, in the context of bringing about specific changes they deemed…