Assessing the needs of training on inclusive education for public school administrators

This study assessed the needs of urban school leaders for special education preparation in a large public school district in the USA in order to assist the school administrators with improving their knowledge and skills for providing appropriate services to students with disabilities and their families to support inclusive education. The needs survey was created based on the Council for Exceptional Children (CEC 2009) standards for school administrators in the USA and the literature in special education. The validity and reliability of the instrument were verified. The needs assessment measures 10 aspects regarding special education knowledge and skills as indicated by 10 factors in the exploratory factor analysis. Quantitative data analyses on a sample of 289 participants revealed that there were significant differences in the needs of training in special education knowledge based on the school administrators’ backgrounds. The current research supports the call for the professional development and inclusive education for school leaders. The findings of the current study indicated that school leaders wanted the knowledge to make them more successful in serving students with disabilities to answer the call for inclusive education.     

Philosophical differences between early childhood education and special education: Issues for school psychologists

Increasingly, professional psychologists are extending their services from school-age children to young handicapped children. Psychological intervention and education issues regarding this group of children are complicated by the fact that the field of early childhood special education itself is in its infancy. This article presents the emerging field of early childhood special education, clarifies some major concerns in educating young handicapped children, and raises issues for school psychologists working in this area.     

Inclusive pedagogy and knowledge in special education: addressing the tension

There has been an increasing focus in policy and practice on adopting inclusive pedagogy as a way of reconceptualising how schools work with children with special educational needs (SEN). The paper considers the split between knowledge and pedagogy inherent in some dominant strains of inclusive pedagogy. Drawing on the ‘knowledge turn’ in curriculum studies, we argue that although an analytical distinction between knowledge and pedagogy may be useful, too strong a delineation between the two fails to best serve the needs of children with special needs. Specific implications for teacher education in relation to SEN in England are considered.     

Continuing education and school psychology: A review of state requirements

Continuing professional education has become increasingly important over the past several years. Recognizing that school psychologists need to update skills on a regular basis, professional organizations in school psychology have developed programs for continuing education. While the interest to participate in such programs seems high, possible conflicts with the requirements of state departments of education may prevent such programs from achieving their potential for success. A survey was conducted to determine present standards for continuing education of school psychologists among state departments of education. The results of this survey are discussed and recommendations are offered to local and state school psychology organizations.     

Parent involvement in early childhood special education: Opportunities for school psychologists

Increased opportunities for assessment and intervention, consultation, and program evaluation in early childhood education are suggested as roles that the school psychologist should develop to facilitate effective parent involvement in a child's education. A review of the literature on parent involvement in early childhood special education is provided. The current federal guidelines, rationale, definitions of parent involvement, and strategies for evaluating parent involvement are reviewed.     

School placement and conductive education: the experiences of education administrators

A placement at the National Institute of Conductive Education (NICE) in Birmingham for children with motor disorders is strongly preferred over mainstream or special schools by some parents, but it has been noted that this is usually refused following the current statementing process. Although funding constraints have been articulated, Angela Morgan, a Research Fellow at the Wolverhampton University Policy Research Institute, and Kevin Hogan, also at the University of Wolverhampton, contend in this article that other explanations are possible, as variability remains in placement decisions. The experiences of education administrators working within the special educational needs departments of local education authorities who make the ultimate decision regarding school placement have hitherto been unexplored. This study offers findings from an exploratory qualitative study, which suggests that administrators are working from disparate understandings of conductive education within an arena fraught with conflict. Recommendations derived from the study include further in-service training for education administrators and prior training for individuals seeking a career in education administration to enhance collaborative working partnerships between administrators and parents.     

关于我国特殊教育学校职能转变的思考

在“以随班就读和特教班为主体，以特教学校为骨干”的特殊教育新格局中，特殊学校的地位将发生根本的变化。本文从我国特殊教育的现状和发展趋势出发，借鉴国际特殊学校教育发展的经验，探讨特殊学校如何在新的条件下继续生存、发展，并切实发挥骨干作用。提出特殊学校应从传统的封闭式教育机构转变为集教学、师资培训、信息服务和社区特殊教育资源管理为一体的特殊教育中心。     

特殊教育学校音乐教学方法研究

欣赏音乐是培养审美兴趣,提高审美能力的有效途径和有力的手段,是美育的重要手段之一。在特殊学校音乐教学中,带领学生把音乐和舞蹈很好的结合,那必定能给学生创造独特的个性,把音乐和音乐游戏融合到一起,让学生在音乐中得到愉快,享受音乐的美。促进学生在体、智、德、美诸方面都得到和谐发展,从而全面提高特殊教学学校教育质量。