For nearly 5 years, the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) has been engaged in efforts to reduce the number of out-of-school suspensions for students with disabilities and their typical peers by applying the principles of positive behavioral support throughout its more than 700 K-12 schools. Initially, LAUSD focused solely on reducing the…

In this case study, special educators left an urban district primarily because of personal reasons, dissatisfaction, and more attractive opportunities elsewhere. Findings suggest that the district might retain more teachers by designing responsive induction programs, improving work conditions, and providing teachers with opportunities to transfer…

Students with disabilities have more barriers to independent living than other student populations. The current study examines the likelihood of independence for young people with disabilities by extending a model developed by the Heal and Rusch (1995) that used the National Longitudinal Transition Study (NLTS) from 1992. The current study employs…

The U.S. spent an estimated $50 billion on special education services in the 1999-2000 school year. Another $27.3 billion was spent on general education services, and an additional $1 billion was spent on other special needs programs for students with disabilities. The total spending to educate students with disabilities represents 21.4% of the…

Provisions of special education law under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act are many and complex. During the 2001-2002 school year over 48 million children in the United States, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico were enrolled in pre-kindergarten through Grade 12. Parents are becoming increasingly legally literate; the increased…

Recent legislation from IDEA 1997 to the Elementary and Secondary Education Act--Revised of 2002 (No Child Left Behind) and the pending reauthorization of the IDEA--present challenges for administrators of special education programs and building-level administrators that oversee educational programs for all students on a daily basis. This article…

This article reviews availability, certification, and preparation of special education administrators, with an emphasis on their roles in maintaining a quality workforce in special education. Findings indicate a special education administrator shortage, a shift to on-the-job training, and the importance of administrative support in recruitment and…

A survey of 34 British headteachers, 25 deputy headteachers, and 49 other educators found the most popular form of professional development was short-course provision, the most requested topic for professional development was performance management, and the majority believed professional development should be special education needs-specific.…

A qualitative study of five Texas female special education directors found that although participants achieved an administrative position, they were marginalized due to their leadership style, gender discrimination, and socialization. Participants also indicated a negative connection between being in special education administration and top-level…

A survey of 1,042 special educators found that disability severity and number of students served in the classroom were the variables that most affected caseloads in special education. Educators spent most of their time instructing, but also spent time doing behavior management, case management, and individualized education program development.…

This commentary discusses the decrease in educational funding, the increase of mandates under the No Child Left Behind Act and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, and the possible conflicts between general and special education. Administrators and educators are urged to work together to meet the needs of all students. (CR)

This article discusses the role of special education administrators in leading the way for changes in special education during the reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The need for administrator advocacy for streamlined paperwork, the response to intervention model, and the provision of highly qualified staff is…

This article presents the challenges that urban special education administrators face in serving students with frequent behavior problems. New strategies for creating supportive environments are shared, including creating a positive school climate, increasing capacity to initiate and maintain research-validated practices, and implementing programs…

This article discusses how the concept of efficiency in special education services is translated into specific practices. A paradigm is presented that quantifies a measure of student need, ties school allocations to student needs, tracks actual expenditures on special education, and links those expenditures to quantifiable measures of student…

This article discusses urban teacher shortages, the interaction between poverty, ethnicity, and academic performance, and how licensure contributes to poor results in urban schools. Two partnerships between local universities and school districts to address these shortages are described. The need to prepare general and special education teachers…