The purpose of this paper is to define and describe the 'Telos' or purpose of special education. We argue that special education has three main (tripartite) functions: (a) research, (b) a distinct system, and (c) special instruction. The overall Telos of special education is to provide an educational service to better serve students whose…

We provide a high-level overview of inclusive education developments in England, Australia, the United States, and Canada, the countries within which much of our research has been completed. For each country, we discuss the work that we have each done within that context, key policy initiatives, and identified levers of system change. Despite…

This paper discusses issues relevant to gifted children's readiness for school. It raises a number of questions that challenge thinking about what is meant by school readiness. Gifted children can often be ready for school entrance before the age traditionally considered appropriate. Their complex developmental profiles challenge accepted notions…

Promoting student access to the general education curriculum remains a focus of the 2004 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This article examines educational practices that promote such access for students with mild mental retardation, overviews issues pertaining to the implementation of supplementary aids and…

Postmodernism, by whatever label, is intellectually bankrupt. It cannot be reconciled with a scientific view. If taken seriously, it leads to catastrophic consequences for any field of study, including special education. It also leads to malpractice in special education. Whole language instruction, radical multicultural education, and facilitated…

This article describes the legislative and policy provisions that support educational services for children with exceptional needs in Nunavut and the Northwest Territories, Canada. The impact of the historical and cultural context on education is considered and significant achievements and challenges facing educators working to implement inclusion…

This article describes policy provisions supporting educational services for children with disabilities in British Columbia. It presents an overview of present policy and reviews the efficacy of current practice, particularly in the area of human resources, financial resources, early intervention, Individualized Education Programs, and parental…

This article describes legislative and policy provisions that support educational services for children with disabilities in Alberta. It presents an overview of present policy and examines how it translates into inclusive practices. Three collaborative initiatives are highlighted: collaboration with the Ministry for Children's Services,…

This article describes the final report from the Special Education Review Committee, the Minister's Response, and the final report of the Task Force and Public Dialogue on the Role of School and outlines some of the changes that are taking place in Saskatchewan as a result of these public consultations. (Contains 6 references.) (Author/CR)

This article reviews current educational legislative and policy provisions in Manitoba for students with exceptional learning needs. It describes formal provisions for such students and then moves on to implementation procedures, practices, and personal preparation. Recent efforts to change special education and issues facing the system today are…

This article examines the current situation and evolution of school integration policies in Quebec and the influence of court decisions on these policies. Variations across Canada are discussed, particularly the differences between English-language school boards, who integrate many more students with intellectual disability, and French-speaking…

This article describes policy provisions supporting educational services for children with disabilities in New Brunswick. Following an overview of the legislative provision and a description of the distinct Francophone and Anglophone sectors, two external assessments of the New Brunswick provisions are examined and factors generating total…

This article begins by describing the principles and beliefs in Nova Scotia that guide educational services for children with disabilities and then discusses findings from a special education implementation review that indicate progress has been made in implementing changes in many special education policy areas. Implementation recommendations are…

This article describes legislative provisions supporting educational services for children with disabilities in Newfoundland and Labrador. It begins by providing educational history information and then reviews The Building Accessibility Act (1990), The Child, Youth and Family Services Act (1998), the Schools Act (1997), and the Human Rights Code…

This article describes legislative and policy provisions that support educational services for children with disabilities in Prince Edward Island. It begins with some general information on Prince Edward Island and then explores recent teacher education and inclusion initiatives that have affected the service delivery for children with…