Advantages and disadvantages of five policy approaches are examined regarding graduation requirements for handicapped students: pass/fail, certificate of attendance, the individualized education program, special education diplomas, and specialized curriculum approaches. (CL)

Results suggested that although inservice training appears to enable special service teams to increase the number of complete individualized education programs, both inservice training and performance feedback may be necessary to maintain increased team productivity during the school year. (Author)

The period from 1924-1934 in the development of The Council for Exceptional Children is examined in the third of six installments. Documented are such aspects as difficulties over developing a constitution, the minor professional status and role of female teachers, and growing competition from other organizations. (CL)

Analyses of 212 questionnaires completed by school districts with mainstreaming programs indicated that placement in the regular class did not enhance individualization of instruction for exceptional learners. Placement in the most restrictive educational environment was, however, a good predictor of individualized instruction. (CL)

Analysis of questionnaires completed by 95 special education graduate students who had received a traineeship indicated that only a small percentage did not find employment in handicapped related settings, while 74.7 percent found employment directly related to teaching handicapped children. (CL)

Twenty secondary students participated in a sociology class training program judged by them as successful in acquainting them with handicapping conditions and handicapped people, easing mainstreaming, and developing teaching materials for use in other classes. (CL)

As presented, goal attainment scaling involves devising a set of goals with involved persons, assigning weights to these goals, developing a set of expected outcomes for each goal, scoring the outcomes, and calculating a summary score of the outcomes across the goals. (Author/DLS)

The article discusses whether research conducted as proposed on human beings may interfere with their human rights and values. (Author/DLS)

The article describes a parental involvement program that is an integral component of an early intervention program for preschool moderately and severely handicapped children. (Author)

The project demonstrated that a minicomputer control system could serve a large number of families simultaneously. Reliable telephonic data transmission between computer and home-based teaching machines was achieved, families accepted the placement of equipment in their homes, and children interacted with automated devices on a daily basis.…

Among the national survey's findings was that, while most states do not presently offer an equivalent to Pennsylvania's Comprehensive Certificate in special education, almost half have already adopted a program of noncategorical, comprehensive certification or appear to be considering a change in that direction. (DLS)

The article briefly discusses the criterion, referenced approach to student assessment, examining some of its advantages and its limitations. The author concludes that it is one useful approach among others and must be viewed with an informed and critical eye. (DLS)

The studies were conducted by telephone using emotional disturbance, juvenile delinquency, and mental retardation as the handicapping conditions. Only four verified negative responses were received out of a total of 92 people surveyed. (DLS)

A young child with cerebral palsy was observed concurrently using four methods of data collection--a participating master teacher, a participating intern teacher, a nonparticipant observer, and videotape recordings--which were then compared. The findings indicated that a highly trained and experienced participant observer can furnish more than…

Current and emerging trends that impact upon special education worldwide are reviewed. These trends focus on prevention and research, normalization, community-based service systems, parental rights, consumer advocacy, home training, curative approaches, and cost/service benefits. (PHR)