A two-dimensional framework consisting of knowledge forms and intellectual operations was used to analyze curriculum materials, teacher-mediated instruction, and student use of information on essay and traditional criterion-referenced measures in two sixth-grade general science classes. Results suggest low-achieving students may need more exposure…

Evaluation of literature-based and traditional basal reading series for sensitivity of repeated curriculum-based measurement with 48 third-grade students found that passage probes from the literature-based series were less sensitive to indexing growth over time than were passage probes from the traditional basal series. (Author/DB)

This article develops a framework for a common definition of system and system change drawing heavily from current understandings within chaos theory, quantum physics, and self-ordering systems. The framework is discussed in the context of TRACES, the national technical assistance agency for students with deaf blindness, and service delivery…

This review of research related to teacher retention and attrition in special education organizes research findings around a conceptual model of teachers' career decisions that includes three major factors: external, employment, and personal. The review also considers major findings from general education retention studies, and conceptual and…

Results of this study of 30 middle school students with learning disabilities indicated that, despite a positive attitude toward mathematics, subjects differed from average-achieving and gifted students in general mathematical achievement and problem-solving ability. Mathematical problem solving was related to ability to represent problems and…

Local norms representing the reading skills of general education low reading group students on passages derived from their curriculum were used to represent satisfactory reading performance. Approximately 40% of special education students read as well as or better than low reading group peers and, thus, were identified as potential candidates for…

A survey of 483 early childhood educators in public and private preschool and kindergarten programs found that 74% of the responding programs had enrolled a child with a disability; the percentage of mainstreamed programs increased across the five years studied; and most frequently reported diagnostic categories were speech/language impairment,…

Analysis of Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (K-ABC) Sequential and Simultaneous Processing scores of 94 children (ages 6-12) with learning disabilities produced factor patterns generally supportive of the traditional K-ABC Mental Processing structure with the exception of Spatial Memory. The sample exhibited relative processing strengths…

Twenty-six junior high school students with learning disabilities studied two science units via an activity-based, inquiry-oriented approach or a textbook approach. Students performed higher on immediate and delayed unit tests when they had learned by the inquiry approach, and reported a preference for this approach. Vocabulary acquisition was…

An introduction to the concepts and terminology of chaos science and a discussion of its implications for the behavioral and social sciences are provided. The paper points out that chaos science assumptions pertaining to nonlinearity, controlled randomness, and dynamic system modeling offer challenging new directions to assessment and intervention…

This paper examines the increased risk for substance abuse faced by students with emotional disturbances, behavior disorders, and learning disabilities. The paper discusses approaches to substance abuse prevention in regular education, application of such programs for special populations, and suggestions for expanding programs to address specific…

A survey of 501 faculty members in doctorate-granting special education programs resulted in a ranking of the top 10 programs. Seventy-three percent of the variance in program reputation could be explained by four variables: faculty publication, time spent in research and writing, time spent in outside professional activity, and number of degrees…

Regular and special educators (n=192) were assigned a case study describing a student having a learning and/or behavior problem and made a placement decision. Results indicated that regular and special educators were most likely to agree with regular class placement when they were high in both personal efficacy and teaching efficacy. (Author/JDD)

This naturalistic study analyzed videotape recordings of nine individualized family service plan meetings in early intervention programs attempting to actively involve parents in the planning process. Results indicated that parents have attained partial decision-making power, but greater attention to parent participation is needed in goal setting,…

This paper begins with historical remarks about general education in South Africa and then discusses the relevance and applicability of special education services for African Americans there. It outlines the need for equal special educational opportunities and implications for addressing inequality in education. (Author/JDD)