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This study examined the effects of systematic instruction emphasizing phonological awareness using three groups of readers (single deficit, double deficit and no deficit) aged 6:6 to 9:3. Twenty nine subjects identified with language-based learning deficits were assigned to a group based on assessment of phonological core deficit areas. After nine months of instruction using Phono-Graphix[R] subjects were posttested. Analyses revealed significant main effects for phonological awareness composites and rapid naming composites. Despite group membership, all children improved in their phonological awareness skills. Group interactions were observed for blending tasks, phonological awareness scores and rapid naming scores. Implications reveal systematic instruction using consistent encoding and decoding of the phonetic system yield significant results despite the number of phonological core deficits originally identified. (Contains 1 table and 3 figures.)

This paper presents results from a study initiated by a consortium of non-public special education facilities to respond to issues of accountability. Research questions were (a) How do students from the most restrictive therapeutic non-public special education facilities compare with other nationally published studies?; and (b) How do positive and negative discharge students differ in transition experiences after leaving a restrictive therapeutic nonpublic special education facility? Three cohorts of EBD students discharged 1994-1997 from seven non-public special education facilities in Maryland were tracked for three years using a longitudinal panel design with telephone interview surveys. Descriptive results are presented, which indicated that students who received intensive and specialized services in non-public education centers completed/graduated (positive discharges) at a much higher rate than national and regional averages and had lower arrest rates at the end of three years. This sample was most independent at Year 2 (employment, living situation, and related outcomes), but by Year 3, level of independence was lower than Year 1. Limitations and implications of findings are discussed. (Contains 8 tables.)