Four brief articles look at aspects of curriculum based measurement (CBM) for academically handicapped students including procedures of CBM with examples, different approaches to graphing student performance, and solutions to the problem of making time to measure student progress frequently. (DB)

The article describes the problem of assessing culturally diverse students for behavior disorders, proposes a solution which replaces norm referenced assessment with functional assessment, and offers recommendations for implementing such a nonbiased, functional approach. (DB)

Methods of recording observational data on student behaviors are reviewed for special educators. Criteria for choosing an appropriate measure are applied to frequency/rate measures, duration measures, time sampling, and measurement of permanent products. (DB)

This article identifies students at risk for substance abuse, characteristics of substance abusers, and the difficulties of obtaining a valid special education assessment when alcohol or drugs are involved. Recommendations are offered for special educators to address the needs of exceptional pupils who may be using alcohol or drugs. (JDD)

Handicapped students in state correctional facilities are legally eligible for special education services. "Best practices" in correctional special education include functional assessments, functional curriculum, vocational special education, transition programs between correctional programs and the community, comprehensive systems for providing…

Q-sort techniques can be used to verify and quantify the discrepancy between the way handicapped children see themselves and how they would like to be. Modifications of the approach may also be useful with parents, peers, or administrators. (CL)

Shows how teachers may use multidisciplinary, observational approaches to help students with traumatic brain injury (TBI) and other students succeed in school. The needs of students with TBI are described, and educational planning guidelines are presented. A chart illustrates the effects of TBI, student needs, and teaching strategies. (CR)

This article discusses using "PEPSI", a screening and programming method that evaluates the physical, emotional, philosophical, social, and intellectual levels of development in children with disabilities. The steps in the PEPSI screening process are described and a case study is provided. A chart depicting indicators in teaching respect for self…

Describes a three-step plan is described that general and special educators can use to obtain assessment information from children with linguistically diverse backgrounds. The steps include identifying the assessment's purpose (which involves how students approach learning tasks, apply their knowledge, and attain final outcomes), knowing the child…

This article discusses how teachers can familiarize their students, with and without disabilities, with rubric terminology and the use of rubrics. It addresses why rubrics should be used, designing a rubric, and current uses of rubrics. A chocolate chip cookie rubric is provided as an example. (Contains 7 references.) (CR)

This article describes ways, based on the curriculum, to measure the progress of students with disabilities and then provides practical information on how to set up and use curriculum-based measurement (CBM) procedures to design meaningful and easy-to-communicate assessments for students. Tips for efficiency with CBM procedures are discussed.…

The following recommendations are made to assist multidisciplinary teams in developing educational programs for second-language learners: diversify the team and offer training; compare student performance in native and secondary languages; consider factors associated with second-language acquisition; employ alternative assessments; identify life…

This article examines the runaway reaction as it was displayed by Barry, a 14-year-old eighth-grade boy with learning disabilities. It identifies some of the common characteristics of this response and proposes school intervention methods. Functional behavioral assessments and strength-based assessments are encouraged, along with using strategy…

This program for reintegrating students with disabilities into the mainstream involves data-based decisions during the following phases: long-range planning, assessing the less restrictive setting, approximating new placement routines, assessing student readiness, the transition, followup, and evaluation. A checklist for assessing the less…

Precision teaching is introduced as a method of helping students develop fluency or automaticity in the performance of academic skills. Precision teaching involves being aware of the relationship between teaching and learning, measuring student performance regularly and frequently, and analyzing the measurements to develop instructional and…