In Study 1, 85 percent of 248 third-, fifth-, and twelfth- grade students identified as normal could have been classified learning disabled (LD). In Study 2, 88 percent of a low achieving fourth grade sample could have been identified as LD, with 4 percent not meeting any criteria for classification. (Author/CL)

The Proportional Change Index (PCI), a numerical statement of the relationship between children's rate of development during intervention with the rate of development at the time intervention began, is proposed as a way of expressing child progress from developmental data. (Author/CL)

Fifteen mildly retarded fifth and sixth graders were trained to tutor their nonhandicapped peers in sign language. Parent and peer reaction was positive, and the retarded students learned to become tutors. (CL)

An individualized reading approach is described in which teachers list specific sequenced reading objectives on separate skill cards, marking the date accomplished by special education students. (CL)

Behaviors of 42 elementary resource teachers and 57 regular elementary teachers were analyzed. Resource teachers spent more time than elementary teachers in accepting students' feelings, praising/encouraging students, and accepting student ideas. In general, verbal behavior of teachers in the two settings was not significantly different. (CL)

Results of a Delphi survey completed by 80 spcial education personnel (administrators, teachers and advocacy group members) included high values for programs in which parents learn to support the teaching process at home, identification of at-risk students, and use of classroom teachers rather than university personnel in inservice education. (CL)

Integrity-of-treatment violations in special education research can be attributed to examiners as well as subjects. Use of educational technology can limit the examiner's influence, while decreased length of treatment session and topographically dissimilar intervention can reduce subject violations in alternating treatment designs and simultaneous…

In a study involving 50 undergraduate and graduate education students the Attitudes Toward Mainstreaming Scale was found to have a large first factor with adequate reliability. There was a low correlation between knowledge and ATMS scores, although knowledge was more strongly related to classroom acceptance of exceptional students. (CL)

This meta-analysis investigated the effects of formative evaluation procedures on student achievement. Twenty-one controlled studies generated 96 relevant effect sizes (average weighted effect size .70). Magnitude of effect of formative evaluation was associated with publication type, data-evaluation method, data display, and use of behavior…

Results of a five-year follow-up study of training and certification of special education administrators revealed that the greatest change since 1979 was in the number of state offices requiring special education coursework or demonstration of competency in special education as part of the general administrative credential. (Author/JW)

A 65-item questionnaire assessed teacher (N=2279) perceptions of intervention alternatives used to control classroom behavior problems. Strategies rated as most effective, easiest to use, and most frequently used by both regular and special educators included interventions that either redirected students toward appropriate behavior or involved…

Results of a survey of 92 nonhandicapped first and second graders (9 of whom had previously participated in a structured integration program and 52 of whom had had unstructured informal contact with the handicapped) suggested that contact with handicapped persons, regardless of type or timing, improved attitudes. (Author/JW)

Supervisors (N=150) of programs for the hearing impaired rated a set of 40 competencies for teachers of elementary level, hearing impaired students. Seven of ten competencies identified as critical to teaching effectiveness reflected the broad area of instruction and instructional planning skills, almost half of which related to assessment.…

The article discusses the characteristics of expert systems (computer programs designed to replicate human expertise in a variety of areas), describes recently available expert system development tools, suggests applications within the field of special education, and reviews recent efforts to apply expert systems technology to special education…

The study compared two approaches to content area instruction with intermediate grade learning disabled students (N=24). One treatment presented information using an advance organizer in the form of a visual spatial display, the other via text. Results indicated significant positive effects for the group taught with visual displays. (Author/JW)