The No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) focuses on all students, with and without disabilities. It is not specifically focused on the education of students with disabilities, as is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA, 2004). Nevertheless, NCLB has had a tremendous impact on the ways in which special education is…

Based on an extensive literature search, this paper identifies key actions school administrators may take regarding systems that limit or avoid student referrals for special education services. Findings indicate that referrals may be limited by early intervention strategies and overall improvement of the mainstream educational system. Includes 93…

Research suggests that federal legislation to resolve educational issues may be unrealistic and unworkable in practice. Parents and school officials accustomed to controlling educational decision making do not appreciate policy imposition from a distant bureaucracy; responses to policy may produce unequal or unfair outcomes when implemented at the…

Outlines a proactive school organization model useful for special need populations (handicapped, and linguistically and culturally different learners) because it enables all participants to collaborate on a systematic, four-phase change process: data collection, needs assessment, development of interventions, and evaluation of outcomes. The focus…

Describes current practices in Illinois where a personnel reimbursement formula is used to finance special education. Summarizes the basic components of the Resource Cost Model (RCM), a complex school finance formula, and compares and contrasts RCM with Illinois' current method of financing special education. (MLF)

Analysis of data from 49 states reveals that the types of formulas used by the states for funding special education are not related to the percentage of mildly disabled children served in regular educational settings but are related to the percentages of mentally retarded and learning disabled children served. (PGD)

A survey of 228 Indiana elementary educators examined the administrative role behavior of service deliverers to handicapped students. Role perceptions of special education directors and principals were compared with the expectations of regular and special class teachers and superintendents. The study revealed considerable ambiguity and the…

Present federal methods of monitoring the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (PL 94-142) only verify compliance with the law. They do not evaluate the law's effectiveness in improving disabled children's functional abilities. A number of educational parameters and outcomes can be used to measure PL 94-142's efficacy. (RW)

Describes a study that explored how changes enacted nationally are implemented locally through an examination of the implementation of P.L. 94-142. Concludes that the "universal" (national) level and the "provincial" (local) level interact to produce the final outcome of legislation. (JM)

Investigates due process hearing officer decisions in issues (under the Education for All Handicapped Children Act) that could result in increased local education agency (LEA) expenditures in Indiana. Parents prevailed in 64 percent of the cases, indicating no hearing officer bias against increased LEA expenditures for required additional…

Systematic billing of handicapped students' health insurance policies to supplement special education revenues is routine practice in several states. Article identifies key issues for school districts and state education agencies contemplating third party billing plans through examining a case study of one such plan. Insurance billing violates…