Beth attends a New York City K-8, dual-language (Spanish/English) public school where 96% of the students qualify as low-income, based on participation in the federally funded lunch program. Early in Beth's 1st-grade year, she was classified as a struggling reader, based on district-wide assessments that identified academic deficits in such skill…

Traditionally, violent acts against children in Japan were considered private, isolated incidents largely outside the reach of government policy and legal action. Increasingly, however, public perception in Japan, mainly driven by the mass media, has shifted away from such complacency. A few well-publicized attacks on children have forced Mombusho…

Fifty states responded to a survey comparing definitions of high risk and determining which agencies serve high-risk infants and toddlers. Results showed that: only 24 states have definitions of risk, populations eligible for services vary immensely among states, and the majority of lead agencies were located in departments of education.…

Drawing upon New Hampshire data, this article analyzes transition from early intervention to preschool programs, labels assigned to preschool children, label changes as children get older, and consequences of categorical labeling. Almost one-third of children in early intervention were not eligible for preschool services because of requirements…

A survey of 31 Colorado special education directors determined which handicapped children, from birth to age 5, should be served in which settings. Results found that administrators see an emerging role for the public schools, are willing to serve a broader range of young handicapped children, and see the need for more integrated settings.…

A survey of state agencies found that early intervention services to visually impaired children, aged birth-two and three-five years, were permissive or mandated in the 29 respondents' states or territories. All respondents used definitions of visual impairment similar to the federal definition, and all required a medical diagnosis. (JDD)

Benefits of early intervention and the state of the art for services to special-needs infants and young children are described. An expanded federal role is recommended to encourage state programs including a phased-in mandate for service. Specific provisions of a federal mandate are discussed, including extension of P.L. 94-142 to birth.…

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act (P.L. 94-142) is used to illustrate policy implementation analyses. Significant barriers to policy implementation for this law include power relationships between parents and schools, classroom teachers' feelings of uncertainty resulting from changed role expectations, and economic problems. (Author)

The decision-making process in treatment questions for seriously ill and handicapped neonates must focus on the best interests of the individual infant and maintain the responsibility for pursuing that interest within the parent-physician relationship. This goal is best served by mandating the development of policies for decision making and…

The chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Human Resources reviews economic and geographic factors affecting the development of social policy decisions for handicapped persons. He notes progress in prevention and early childhood special education and considers implications of tax policies for families of handicapped children. (CL)

Federal statistical programs are important for monitoring both the need for the impact of public programs, including those for handicapped children. The federal statistical system has suffered from overall budgetary cutbacks, and from several decisions to eliminate statistical programs. (Author/CL)

The article focuses on the program authorized by P.L. 94-142, the Education for All Handicapped Children Act, and on its primary organized coalition, federal lobbying, the Consortium for Citizens with Developmental Disabilities. Common data bases for interest-group comparison are used, and the topic is approached from a political-interest-group…

The paper summarizes results from two Illinois studies on the roles of educational personnel (n=420) employed in special programs for infants/toddlers and three- to five-year-olds, and evaluates preservice training needs of these personnel. Time spent in various roles and perceptions of ideal emphasis on role areas during preservice are discussed.…

The University of Washington has designed a rural track in its master's level training program in early childhood special education. This paper reports on the components of the training program and the results of the first two years of teacher preparation, including placement of trainees in rural practicum sites. (Author/JDD)

Therapists and educators in early childhood special education programs have several potential sources of conflict ensuing from differing professional backgrounds, quality control, coordination problems, material equity, and lack of policy. A model for intensive and extensive training to improve the integration of therapy and therapists into the…