CONCERNED WITH THE NEED FOR AND PREPARATION OF PERSONNEL IN SPECIAL EDUCATION, THE CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS FOCUS ON THE EDUCATION PROFESSIONS DEVELOPMENT ACT (EPDA, PUBLIC LAW 90-35) AND THE OPPORTUNITIES IT PROVIDES. JAMES J. GALLAGHER, ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER, BUREAU OF EDUCATION FOR THE HANDICAPPED, DISCUSSES THE PROBLEMS TO BE MET IN "TRAINING PERSONNEL FOR SPECIAL EDUCATION." RUSSELL WOOD, DEPUTY ASSOCIATE COMMISSIONER, BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT, DESCRIBES LEGISLATIVE PROVISIONS IN "EPDA--AN OVERVIEW." LEONARD LUCITO, DIRECTOR OF TRAINING PROGRAMS, BUREAU OF EDUCATION FOR THE HANDICAPPED, CONSIDERS THE RELATIONSHIP OF THE BUREAU TO THE EPDA IN "COORDINATION FOR EFFECTIVE PROGRAMMING." IN ADDITION, THE ORGANIZATION OF THE BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT IS DESCRIBED, AND THE MAJOR PROVISIONS OF THE EPDA ARE OUTLINED. EPDA PRIORITY AREAS (AND THEIR RELATIONSHIP TO SPECIAL EDUCATION) EXPLORED ARE THE PREPARATION OF TEACHER AIDES AND AUXILIARY PERSONNEL, SPECIAL AND GENERAL EDUCATORS, AND PERSONNEL FOR DISADVANTAGED COMMUNITIES AND FOR PRESCHOOL PROGRAMS. INFORMATION ON THE POSSIBLE USES OF THE EPDA, A STATEMENT BY THE BUREAU OF EDUCATIONAL PERSONNEL DEVELOPMENT, AND A LIST OF CONFERENCE PARTICIPANTS ARE INCLUDED. (JD)