The status of Functional Behavioral Assessment (FBA): Adherence to standard practice in FBA methodology

The application of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) has become increasingly visible in school settings since its inclusion in the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Despite the mandate for FBAs within the educational program of students with disabilities displaying behavior problems, the federal government put forth guidelines that made what constituted an FBA subject to interpretation. Many states have assumed the responsibility of establishing policy for completing FBAs. This investigation examined the resources acquired or developed and disseminated by each of the 50 states for FBA completion and compared the information from these resources to standard practice for FBA and functional analysis (FA). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Psychol Schs 42: 737–744, 2005.     

Toward a Globally Sensitive Definition of Inclusive Education Based in Social Justice

While many policies, pieces of legislation and educational discourse focus on the concept of inclusion, or inclusive education, the field of education as a whole lacks a clear, precise and comprehensive definition that is both globally sensitive and based in social justice. Even international efforts including the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the Education for All action merely reproduce efforts in the West, especially those of the United States and the United Kingdom. The current article proposes a definition for inclusive education that is both globally sensitive and centred around social justice for individuals with exceptionalities.     

印度高中化学新课程述评

印度中央中等教育委员会(CBSE)颁布的<高中化学课程纲要>(2003-2005)是面向2005年全印度高级中学证书考试的大纲.本文在介绍印度高中化学课程设置和内容的基础上,分析了印度当前高中化学课程的特色,以资借鉴.     

Alternative approaches to the definition and identification of learning disabilities: Some questions and answers

Recent consensus reports concur in suggesting major changes in the federal regulatory approach to the identification of learning disabilities (LD). These reports recommend abandoning the IQ-discrepancy model and the use of IQ tests for identification, and also recommend incorporation of response to instruction (RTI) as one of the identification criteria. These changes are also recommended to states in the current reauthorization of the U.S. Individuals with Disabilities in Education Act (IDEA). While not mandatory, states that follow these recommendations will experience major changes in identification and treatment of students served under the LD category. This paper reviews the basis for these recommendations, summarizing four recent consensus group reports on special education that concur in suggesting these changes. Seventeen commonly asked questions about these changes are presented, with responses. In order to ensure adequate instruction for students with LD, it is essential that identification practices focus on assessments that are directly related to instruction, that any services for students who are struggling prioritize intervention over eligibility, and that special education be permitted to focus more on results and outcomes and less on eligibility and process. Identification models that incorporate RTI represent a shift in special education toward the goals of better achievement and behavioral outcomes for students identified with LD, as well as those students at risk for LD. Supported by grants from the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, HD25802-13, “Center for the Study of Learning and Attention Disorders” (JMF); and the Office of Special Education Programs: H326Y02002, National Center for Special Education Accountability Monitoring (WAC); H324U010004, National Research Center for Learning Disabilities (DJR), and H324X010013, Preventing Reading Difficulties: A Three-Tiered Intervention Model (SRC). The National Center for Learning Disabilities also provided support for the development of this paper. The views expressed are those of the authors and should not be viewed as necessarily representative of others associated with the centers listed or the funding agencies supporting these centers.     

Inclusion in the United States: correlations between key state variables

ABSTRACT

The United States (U.S.) Department of Education reports that the range for all students with disabilities included for at least 80% of the day in the general education classroom in different states is between 83.6% and 36.9%. Such a range also exists for individual disability groups. While other studies have noted these differences, none have attempted to determine factors associated with them. In the present study, using the 50 states as subjects, extant data sources were used to determine correlations between the percent of three groups of students included for at least 80% of the day in each state, and key state variables representing states’ political leanings, educational levels, financial conditions, and formal complaints as allowed under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, 20 U.S.C. § 1400. 2004). Also analyzed was the relationship between states’ educational achievements and levels of inclusion. Findings are reported in terms of correlations between the variables and the variance accounted for in inclusion by different variables.     

Assistive Technology: Legislation and Legal Issues

Developing special education programs that confer a free appropriate public education (FAPE) for students with disabilities has been a challenge for local education agencies since the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) was first passed in 1975. Developing a FAPE has been particularly challenging when students require assistive technology (AT) services or devices to meet their unique educational needs. In this article, we consider how students' individualized education program (IEP) planning teams have met this challenge by examining administrative and judicial rulings on the use of AT services and devices by students' with disabilities. Specifically, we first examine rulings from 2005 to the first half of 2013 regarding the IDEA, FAPE, and AT. Second, we explore how courts have interpreted the AT obligations of educational agencies with a focus on cases in which parents were the prevailing party. Primary reasons for school district losses in these cases include failing to: (a) provide AT assessments (b) address AT needs, (c) provide the AT devices or services specified in a student's IEP, (d) properly implement AT services. We end by discussing the implications of these court decisions for school districts use of AT services and devices with students in special education.     

Identifying Best Practice in a Shifting Landscape: Making Sense of RTI in the Context of SLD Identification

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. 1997, 1999, 2004. 20 U. S. C. 1400 et. Seq. (Statute). 34 C.F.R. 300 (Regulations) [Google Scholar] has had substantial influence on special education in general and the field of learning disabilities in particular. Since its reauthorization in 2004, ongoing regulatory efforts have been underway to determine its operationalization and implementation. Of particular concern to those involved in the educational process (i.e., special educators, school psychologists, families, advocates) are the guidelines for identifying children with specific learning disabilities (SLD), including the use of Response to Intervention (RTI). In this article, some of the most relevant and controversial issues associated with the use of RTI for the identification of SLD are detailed. We discuss how SLD is conceptualized in terms of identification approaches and classification criteria and present position statements of special education professional associations on the changes to the federal SLD definition and identification criteria. Finally, we summarize proposed resolutions to the seemingly irreconcilable differences identified throughout the article.     

Assessment and Accountability for Programs Serving Young Children with Disabilities

States currently are in the process of developing child and family outcome measurement systems for young children with disabilities to meet federal data reporting requirements for the Part C (Infants and Toddlers with Disabilities) and Part B Preschool Grants program supported through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This article reviews issues related to the use of assessments in providing outcome data, discusses challenges raised in conducting valid assessments with young children for accountability purposes, and outlines decisions states must make related to assessment as they design and implement outcome measurement approaches. Considerations related to the standardized or curriculum-based measures are discussed along with other choices related to the use of assessment for accountability.     

In Remembrance of Dr. Ann Nevin: From Early Teacher Consultation Practices to Full Inclusion

This article reviews aspects of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) that support collaborative decision making in planning for individual student needs. The U.S. Office of Special Education Programs(OSEP) has funded several areas to provide a framework for collaboration. Findings from the Beacons Projects and other OSEP-supported projects are discussed within the context of IDEA's focus on collaboration.     

Teacher education for inclusion in Europe

Teacher education issues are high on the policy agenda across Europe. The United Nations Convention on the Rights of People with Disabilities (2006) is gaining momentum and providing a force for change, supported by many communications both internationally and at European level that recognize how central education is in efforts to develop a more equitable society. In moving towards a more inclusive education system, there is a need to train all teachers to meet the diverse needs of all learners in their classrooms and to work collaboratively with colleagues. Drawing on key documents, this article outlines the policy context and reviews the available evidence supporting the move towards teacher education for inclusion across Europe. It presents the work of the European Agency for Development in Special Needs Education, to highlight some of the opportunities and challenges within its member countries in addressing teacher education for inclusion.     

Parental refusal to consent for evaluation: A legal analysis with implications for school psychologists

The decision to begin the process for special education eligibility has complexities impacting children, parents, teachers, and schools. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA) eligibility provisions specify the need to obtain consent prior to evaluation and options when consent cannot be obtained. School psychologists may encounter parents who are reluctant to provide consent or parents who may seek to condition their permission. The reasons for parent refusal to consent to evaluation are analyzed in a review of administrative and judicial decisions published in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Law Report between 2004 and 2008. Possible parent reactions to the request for evaluation are discussed, and guidelines for school psychologists encountering reluctant parents are provided. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.     

The Educational Attainment Process Among Adolescents with Disabilities And Children of Parents with Disabilities

This article uses data from the National Longitudinal Survey of Youth 1997 (NLSY97) to examine the relationship between disability, parental and youth university expectations in 1997, and youth high school completion and university enrolment by 2003. Results indicate that educational attainment is not equal for young adults with and without disabilities in the United States. Parents—but not adolescents—are likely to reduce their educational expectations when adolescents have a mild or serious disability, net of school performance. These parental—but not adolescent—expectations are significantly associated with high school completion. Finally, even after controlling for educational expectations and school performance, youth with serious disabilities are much less likely to graduate from high school than youth without disabilities. Despite the considerable strides made in the implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act, students with disabilities are not achieving educational parity in graded schooling.     

Reflections on “teachers' thinking about at‐risk learners and others”

This article examines the contextual, conceptual, and empirical foundations of functional behavioral assessment (FBA) in general educational settings. Schools today face 2 important, contextual challenges: the need to design effective responses to increases in individual problem behavior and the need to be compliant with the 1997 amendments to the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. FBA as a solution to these challenges is explored from a conceptual framework. Finally, the empirical literature supporting the use of FBA in typical school settings is reviewed briefly.     

Legal Aspects of Preventing Problem Behavior

Changes to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (Public Law 108-446) (now known as the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004, H.R. 1350 (passed both houses of Congress 11/19/04; signed by President Bush 12/3/04) [Google Scholar]: IDEA) mandated new requirements for providing discipline to students with disabilities. These changes led to simplified procedures when students with disabilities commit infractions of the school code. A review of potential legal dilemmas, however, challenges the simplicity of the revised procedures and may actually underscore new legal entanglements to parents and school officials. We discuss what we know about discipline and reasons for an interest in discipline applications, potential legal complications resulting from the reauthorized IDEA, and implications of prevention strategies for students with disabilities demonstrating problem behaviors.     

‘Close the door on your way out’: parent perspectives on supported transition planning for young people with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities in Ireland

Students with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities encounter complex and circuitous transitions from post‐primary settings to Higher Education. In Ireland, inequitable access to Individual Education Plans, and a lack of policy infrastructure to provide formal transition planning, means that these journeys are varied and uncertain. This study presents findings from surveys completed by parents supporting students with disabilities in their final 3 years of mainstream secondary school (n = 69), and in‐depth interviews with a self‐selected subset of parents (n = 8). Results point to: (i) disparate levels and quality of support and guidance, (ii) fissures in communication channels between parents and schools, (iii) insufficient awareness and understanding of the interplay between disability and successful post‐school outcomes, and (iv) high levels of stress, anxiety and frustration experienced by students, parents and carers.     

高校毕业生就业跟踪调查及对策分析——以安徽教育学院为例

2006年4月至6月,安徽教育学院以信函问卷和回访座谈的方式对2003—2005届部分普高毕业生及其就业的单位进行了跟踪调查。调查显示,用人单位对我院毕业生的总体印象较好,毕业生对我院的教育教学是肯定的、对教师的评价是积极的,但也存在一些问题。为进一步提升学院普高办学水平,我们必须坚持以人为本的指导思想,注重培养学生的综合素质;以社会需求为导向,努力造就一专多能复合型人才;加强就业指导,促进学生促进尽快成才;积极开展毕业生跟踪调研,使办学更具针对性。     

The Impact of the IDEA 2004 on Transition to College for Students with Learning Disabilities

Abstract The newly reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act of 2004 contains several significant changes that will directly impact students with learning disabilities (LD) who are preparing for transition to postsecondary education. These modifications include transition planning, reevaluations, new criteria for the diagnosis of LD, and the summary of performance requirement. This article presents an overview of pertinent changes in each of these key areas, as well as discussion of how these modifications will impact students in transition. Recommendations are offered for secondary and postsecondary personnel regarding these changes.     

Book Reviews

Book reviewed in this article:
Cognitive Approaches in Special Education. David Sugden (ed.).
Cognitive Strategies for Special Education A.F.Ashman, R.N.F. Conway.
From Special to Ordinary Schools Neville Bennett, Allyson Cass.
Troublesome Behaviour in the Classroom: A Teachers' Survival Guide Mick McManus.
Current Causes and Prevention of Handicap J. Michael Connor.
Enhancing Nonsymbolic Communication Interactions among Learners with Severe Disabilities E. Siegal-Causey, D. Guess.
Special Educational Needs Review Vols.1 and 2 Neville Jones (ed.).
Children with Physical Disabilities Paula Halliday.
Managing Misbehaviour T. Charlton, K. David.
The Child in the Physical Environment C. Spencer, M. Blades, K. Morsley.
The Management of Special Needs in Ordinary Schools N. Jones, T. Southgate (eds.).     

Section 504 and school psychology

Court cases, Office of Civil Rights enforcement activities, and Department of Education policy statements have signaled new interpretations of Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973. A summary of those portions of Section 504 most pertinent to school psychological practice is provided. Special attention is given to the similarities and differences between 504 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act regarding school responsibilities to students with special needs. Implications of 504 for school psychological practice are discussed.