This textbook provides a comprehensive look at the vast knowledge base supporting special and compensatory education. Each chapter begins with a context and concludes with a section on the school administrator's role in promoting and leading others in each of the special and compensatory programs. Chapters include: (1) "Special Education," which discusses the legal basis of services for children with disabilities, funding, disability classifications, programs and services, meetings and hearings, and inclusion; (2) "Gifted and Talented," which includes information on the definition of a gifted child, the legal basis and funding of gifted programs, existing programs, program implementation, and program assessment; (3) "Title I: Helping Disadvantaged Children Meet High Standards," which describes the Chapter 1 program; (4) "Reading Programs," which reviews research on reading and specific reading programs; (5) "Bilingual Education," which describes instructional approaches, bicultural programs, and parent involvement and support; (6) "Vocational, Tech-Prep, and Career Education Programs," which discusses the legal basis and funding of each program and necessary resources and support; (7) "Multicultural Education," which provides sample state mandates for multicultural education and discusses curricular basics for multicultural education; and (8) "Student At-Risk Programs," which provides an overview of characteristics of students at-risk and programs for dealing with these students. (Contains biographies and index.) (CR)