Tennessee data were analyzed for four years before and five years after the funding formula for special education was changed from a "flat" rate to a "weighted" formula. The weighted formula was associated with a statistically significant decrease in less restrictive placements and a reliable increase in more restrictive placements. (Author/JDD)

Thirty-seven secondary students with learning disabilities were taught health facts and concepts, which they then applied to problem-solving exercises presented through computer simulation games. Students who were taught an explicit strategy for solving problems performed better on two transfer measures than students given supportive feedback and…

Virginia college and university students (n=761) with disabilities were surveyed to determine their levels of satisfaction with accessibility, special services, and accommodations at their schools. Respondents generally expressed satisfaction with services, but the majority had encountered accessibility, attitudinal, and resource problems that…

Teacher ratings on the RISK scale for 2,306 kindergarten students were used to predict which children were ultimately placed in resource rooms or regular education. All five RISK factors were significantly related to future school performance. Most predictive items were child ability, current performance, and teacher investment. Overall RISK scale…

This paper conceptualizes transition as an outcome-oriented process leading to quality of life for individuals with disabilities. The paper discusses theoretical issues pertaining to the definition and conceptualization of quality of life, research findings in this area, and issues that should be addressed in the future. (Author/JDD)

This article reviews definitions of quality of life; explores the subjective nature of life quality for people with disabilities; relates the concept to cultural norms and universal human values and needs; explores the optimal theory of personal well-being; and surveys the source and use of research and implications for planning and evaluating…

Twenty-four gifted girls in grades 4-7 in 3 rural school districts received a mathematics intervention program including problem-solving activities, math-related career options, and self-esteem issues. Pretest and posttest scores indicated that the program effectively changed the girls' attitudes toward mathematics. (Author/JDD)

Analysis of instructional recommendations for mainstreamed students with disabilities provided in teachers' manuals of three elementary science textbook series revealed that there was a limited number of disability categories addressed, a poor match between recommendations and student needs, lack of consistency across grades, and inappropriate…

Rural students (n=654) with disabilities from preschool through secondary school were analyzed to determine the incidence of and factors involved in categorical or programing changes. Rates of change varied significantly among classifications; and the student's initial classification, grade level, and comorbidity were predictive of change in…

Two groups of adolescents (n=36) with learning difficulties in mathematics were taught problem-solving skills under two conditions: standard word problems or contextualized problems on videodisc. Both groups improved their performance, but students in the contextualized problem group did significantly better on the contextualized problem posttest…

This paper reviews the evolution and the accomplishments of federal education policy in early childhood for children with disabilities. The review covers the period from 1968 to 1990, including the development of the Handicapped Children's Early Education Program, the Early Childhood Research Institutes, and Part H of Public Law 99-457.…

This analysis of federal laws, state-level policies, and providers' and consumers' viewpoints examines the degree to which family-oriented early intervention policies and practices are family centered. Results indicate a movement toward adoption of family-centered policies and practices, but show discrepancies between state-level policymakers and…

This article discusses knowledge gaps that exist in the instruction of preschoolers with disabilities, in terms of the curriculum content, procedures used to individualize instruction, instructional procedures designed to ensure acquisition, and strategies used to ensure skill use or generalization. Barriers to generating such knowledge and…

This paper addresses the transition of young children from preschool programs that provide special education services to kindergarten or alternative elementary school placements. The roles of the child, family, and service providers in transition preparation, planning, implementation, and evaluation are described. Components of successful…

This article focuses on integration of children with and without disabilities during the early childhood years, with specific attention devoted to the notion of how predictors of high-quality programs become integrated into service delivery systems. Indicators of program quality from general education, early childhood education, and early…