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The current study investigates school-level factors that affect the performance of students with disabilities on statewide assessments. Data were collected as part of a larger study examining the effects of education policy reform on students with disabilities. Statewide assessment data for students with disabilities from 2 school districts within 1 state were analyzed. Assessment results in reading and math in 3rd, 5th, and 8th grades across 2 school years were analyzed using a series of hierarchical linear regressions. Of the variables considered, only the performance of schools' general education students on the assessments added any predictive value to the regression model after accounting for school demographic indicators.

Special education has been gaining intense attention from governments and educators throughout the world. As a developing country, and official candidate for the European Union, Turkey has been working on issues related to special education provision and inclusive education to improve the quality of services for citizens with disabilities. This article presents the developments and current status of special education in Turkey. The purpose of this paper is to describe the structure of the special education system in Turkey and current developments within the special education field. Topics include a brief history of special education services, an overview of special education laws and regulations, as well as a summary of efforts around inclusion and current directions in teacher training. We conclude by noting several challenges in the ongoing improvement of the quality of special education in Turkey. (Contains 3 tables and 1 figure.)

This study examined the effects of a systematic, phonics-based reading intervention on the oral reading fluency and accuracy of adolescents with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) receiving educational services in a juvenile correctional facility. A multiple-baseline design across four participants was used to calculate the effect of daily, one-on-one, 30-minute reading instructional sessions provided over nine weeks. Oral reading fluency increased markedly and error rates decreased for each participant in the intervention phase. Participants also experienced improvements in reading as measured pre- and postintervention on a standardized reading assessment. Findings underscore the promise of systematic reading intervention for improving academic outcomes for adolescents with EBD confined to juvenile correctional facilities who are also struggling readers. (Contains 1 figure and 1 table.)

Peer interactions are a critical component of learning; however, students with emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD) are at particular risk of social isolation at school. As students with EBD are increasingly included in general education settings, a better understanding of what affects their interactions is needed. In this qualitative study, structured observations and semi-structured interviews were used to gain an understanding of how specific classroom environmental and pedagogical decisions (i.e., instructional groupings, overall classroom environment, task structure, and proximity of adults) affected the peer interactions of a 2nd-grade student with EBD who was educated in an inclusive classroom with the support of a full-time paraprofessional. Analysis revealed that close physical proximity of the paraprofessional significantly impeded the number of interactions experienced by the student. (Contains 1 table.)

As more and more students with behavioral disorders (BD) are included in general education classrooms, the use of paraprofessionals in one-on-one support roles has expanded. Unfortunately, the use of paraprofessionals to provide one-on-one assistance can result in social isolation for students with disabilities. This multiple-baseline single-subject study examined the effectiveness of a paraprofessional training program designed to teach paraprofessionals to facilitate interactions between elementary-age students with BD and their peers in the general education classroom. Baseline and postintervention observational data reflecting: (1) the proximity of the paraprofessionals in relation to the students with BD; (2) the amount and type of facilitative behaviors displayed by the paraprofessionals; and (3) the rate of peer interactions experienced by the participating students with BD were collected for three paraprofessional/student pairs over a 7-week period. Rates of student interaction increased following the intervention. Rates of paraprofessional facilitative behavior also increased, though less markedly. Additionally, after the training intervention, all participating paraprofessionals faded their assistance more frequently and spent less time in the immediate vicinity of the students they served. Recommendations for use of paraprofessionals in the classroom and for paraprofessional training are discussed. (Contains 1 table and 1 figure.)

We examined the school mobility of a cross-sectional sample of 70 secondary-age youth with emotional disturbance (ED). Data were collected through an archival review of school records. Students' school mobility histories were examined in terms of the overall number of schools attended in the elementary school years, as well as the timing of the moves that were made. Findings indicate that sample students experienced high rates of school mobility with 66% having changed schools at least once by the end of 2nd grade and 89% having changed schools at least once by the end of 5th grade. Strategies for minimizing school mobility and the impact of high rates of school mobility are reviewed.

The primary purpose of this investigation was to examine the effects of a program designed to improve adolescents' relationships with at least one teacher in an urban high school. All participating students were nominated by teachers as having significant emotional and behavioral problems and approximately half of these youth were randomly assigned to an intervention that included increased positive involvement between each student and one teacher within the school. Teacher ratings of students' social, behavioral, emotional, and academic adjustment at pre- and post-intervention indicated that students in the intervention group had higher grade point averages than did students in the control group following the 5-month intervention but no differences were observed on other variables. Challenges associated with conducting school-based, relationship-focused interventions in high-poverty urban environments and several lessons that were learned in the process of initiating this project are discussed.

Research indicates that the acquisition of phonemic awareness and phonic skills is highly correlated with later success in learning to read. Numerous studies support the hypothesis that deaf and hard-of-hearing children are able to utilize alternative systems to develop phonological awareness that are not dependent on the ability to hear sounds or accurately pronounce words. A quasi-experimental, pre- and posttest design was employed in this study that evaluated the efficacy of implementing a phonics treatment package with middle-school-aged students. Results indicate that treatment students were able to demonstrate acquisition and generalization of the phonic skills taught. Additionally, acquisition of these skills did not appear to be related to degree of hearing loss.

As students with severe disabilities are included in general education settings, the use of paraprofessionals has expanded to meet these students' needs. Unfortunately, paraprofessionals can have the inadvertent effect of intensifying the social isolation of students with disabilities. This study investigated the effectiveness of a training program aimed at teaching four paraprofessionals to facilitate interactions between students with severe disabilities and their peers. A multiple baseline, single-subject design across four paraprofessional/student pairs was utilized. Observational data were collected over the baseline and postintervention phases. Rates of paraprofessional facilitative behavior increased following the intervention. Additionally, rates of student interaction increased immediately and dramatically and were maintained through the maintenance probe.

Difficulty managing behavior in the classroom is frequently cited as a source of frustration for teachers and a common reason why new teachers leave the profession (Ingersoll 2001, 2003). Concerted attention to issues of classroom management is important to the health of education; attention to these issues at the middle and secondary education level are especially important, given that many of the strategies and methods of managing behavior in the elementary school years are perceived to become less effective with older populations of students. A cohesive and thoughtfully constructed personal philosophy of classroom management can provide the foundation from which teachers make classroom management decisions and respond to instances of student misbehavior. In this article, the authors describe the major tenets of three well-established models of classroom management: (1) Assertive Discipline; (2) Logical Consequences; and (3) Teacher Effectiveness Training. In addition to the description, an example of applying each model to a behavior management situation in a secondary classroom is supplied.

This study examined service delivery and risk factors for 93 youth with emotional and behavioral disorders who were served by one jurisdiction's child welfare, juvenile justice, and special education agencies. The researchers collected data through an archival review of agency records. The article discusses findings as they relate to the link between maltreatment and delinquency for youth with emotional and behavioral disorders and includes recommendations for integrating early intervention efforts.

This study examined the academic achievement of 45 incarcerated youth who received an intensive, 6-week summer reading program involving 3 hours of direct instruction and whole language reading activities per day. Significant improvements on 3 of 4 reading tests were found. Overall reading abilities of participants remained low, however, suggesting the need for more long-term interventions. (Contains references.) (Author/DB)

Longitudinal data on 515 fifth graders, including 51 with learning disabilities (LD), were examined for correlations between learning disabilities and juvenile delinquency. Self-report data on delinquent activity and court records were examined seven years later. LD status did not account for a significant portion of unique variance in the delinquency variables when demographic variables were controlled. (Author/DB)

A five-year longitudinal study compared postschool outcomes for 1985 and 1990 graduates with behavior disorders and their peers. Employment rates for graduates with behavior disorders were lower at two of the 10 data collection points, engagement rates were lower at six points, and rates of postsecondary degree attainment were lower. (Author/CR)

The article focuses on the role of literacy instruction for adolescents with reading disabilities. It mentions the challenges encountered by secondary teachers in motivating adolescents, who still struggle with basic literacy tasks, to stay focus on the learning process and the execution of elusive skills. It is critical to the importance of remedial reading instruction extended to secondary level considering minimal guidance from research on effective practices. It further states that emphasis on reading instruction at the early grades is evidently increasing at the secondary level.

This article summarizes some of the difficulties that students who are supported by paraprofessionals often face, and provides strategies that paraprofessionals can use to minimize the social problems associated with one-on-one support. There are examples of paraprofessional proximity such as maintaining physical contact with the student and sitting directly next to the student. Paraprofessionals have a great deal of responsibility for making decisions about when to remove a student from the classroom. Many strategies also exist to counter the potentially negative consequences. It is important for paraprofessionals to ensure that the student is in rich social environments.

Discusses cooperative learning groupwork for students with mild disabilities in the United States. Benefits of small-group instruction; Theoretical rationale for small-group instruction; Factors which have an impact on increases in task-related interactions; Obstacles to effective cooperative learning groupwork; Conclusion.

Focuses on a study which examined issues related to school violence and disruptions in the United States. Context of school violence; How schools have responded to problems of school violence; Procedures for preventing school violence.

The article discusses the significance of accessing the general education Mathematics curriculum for secondary students with high-incidence disabilities in the U.S. According to the author, it is important to assess the education curriculum for secondary students to address the problem showed by the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) that there were 30% of students in eight grade who scored below a basic achievement level with basic defined as partial mastery of knowledge and skills. This result led educators to conclude that Mathematics achievement of secondary students with disabilities deserves closer attention.