The report addresses the need for rectifying overrepresentation of minority students (especially black students) in classes for the educable mentally retarded. Recommendations made in 1979 by a panel established by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences are reviewed. Case studies illustrating six successful alternative instructional practices within the regular program for students experiencing academic failure are presented. Information on the practices includes type of practice, name of program, description of program, evidence of effectiveness, applicability to local education agencies, and a list of references. The six practices identified and described are direct instruction with DISTAR, an approach designed to systematically move students through a sequenced set of academic materials; the Exemplary Center for Reading Instruction, which focuses on individualized instruction and positive reinforcement; precision teaching, a set of measurement procedures to guide teachers and students in making better educational decisions; peer tutoring; Adaptive Learning Environment Model, which promotes a redefinition of roles for administrators as well as special and regular educators; and computer assisted instruction. (CL)