This commentary calls for increased efforts toward recruiting and retaining quality people in the field of special education. The use of sophisticated marketing techniques is encouraged, as well as initiatives by businesses such as providing sabbaticals for business professionals to allow them to spend a year team teaching. (JDD)

This study of 33 mainstreamed students with mild disabilities in grades 3-9 found significant correlations between classroom behaviors and final grades in all areas except attendance and homework at the elementary level and written work at the junior high level. Significant differences in reading scores were found between mainstreamed and regular…

A survey of 52 state directors of special education found that very few states require regular education administrators to complete a special education law course, though many states did require an introductory special education course. The number of due process hearings in states was not related to findings on endorsement requirements.…

Seven secondary teachers of 57 students with learning disabilities used a videodisc program to teach fractions. Teacher and student reactions were very positive, almost two-thirds of the students reached or exceeded criterion performance, and teaching styles of participating teachers subsequently became more interactive. (JDD)

This study found that a linear discriminant function was able, with 73 percent accuracy, to distinguish between learning-disabled dropouts (n=213) and learning-disabled graduates (n=92). The discriminant function was composed of six variables--student ethnicity, reading ability, family intactness, family socioeconomic status, school transfers, and…

This study of 63 students (in grades 2-8) with mild to moderate disabilities found that students in classrooms using curriculum-based measurement (CBM) achieved better than controls on reading measures. The study also found that students of teachers who received CBM expert system instructional consultation achieved better than others on written…

A survey of 353 adults with learning disabilities concerning their knowledge and perceptions of vocational rehabilitation found that there was a large group who were either ineligible for rehabilitation services or dissatisfied with services received. Generally, respondents' knowledge of vocational rehabilitation was limited. (Author/JDD)

This commentary on a paper by L. Heshusius (EC 600 327) argues that, rather than rejecting empiricism, postmechanistic science embraces a more sophisticated view of empiricism and scientific method. The commentary also supports direct instruction with the use of multiple measures of educational progress, quantitative and qualitative alike. (JDD)

This commentary on a paper by L. Heshusius (EC 600 327) describes key ideas of direct instruction and reflects on the original paper from a perspective that incorporates the realities of classrooms. The commentary calls for serious, systematic inquiry that explores instructional environments for special education students using constructs from…

In response to a paper by L. Heshusius (EC 600 327), this article clarifies fundamental concepts of curriculum-based assessment and discusses specific points of misrepresentation. The article concludes that Heshusius has created a narrow reductionistic view of reality instead of a dynamic evolving approach to assessment, curriculum, and…