Are Students with Mathematics Learning Disabilities Receiving a FAPE?: Insights from a Descriptive Review of Individualized Education Program Plans

Students with mathematics learning disability (MLD) are entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) and related services as outlined by their Individualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP provides a roadmap for educators to follow to enhance in-school and post-school outcomes. This study explored the IEPs of secondary students with MLD, enrolled in grades 6-12, attending 15 rural independent school districts in the southeast part of the United States. Results suggest secondary students with MLD have needs in (a) calculation; (b) fractions, decimals, and percentages; (c) functional mathematics; (d) reading, and (e) social and behavioral skills; yet, 70% of IEPs reviewed only included instruction in the general education setting, without specialized services. IEPs included a variety of accommodations but few goals facilitating access to grade level content or special education services to support specialized instruction to meet goals. Implications for practice, limitations, and implications for future research are discussed.

Are Rural Students Receiving FAPE? A Descriptive Review of IEPs for Students With Social, Emotional, or Behavioral Needs

Students who are eligible to receive special education and related services are entitled to a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) including the necessary emotional, behavioral, and social supports to access the general curriculum. This study explores Individualized Education Program (IEP) plans of students with disabilities who have social, emotional, or behavioral needs served in five rural independent school districts. Specifically, the study sought to investigate (a) whether the present level of academic and functional performance (PLAAFP) and annual goals demonstrated congruence and (b) whether the degree to which the IEP documents conform to both procedural and substantive requirements for development. A review of 126 IEPs suggests that although IEPs are somewhat compliant, they fail to comprehensively address student needs or align across areas, violating the spirit of Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act. Recommendations and future areas of inquiry are provided.

From State Policy to School Practices: Accessibility and Implementation of Teen Dating Violence Awareness Education

Currently, 22 states legally require or urge schools to include teen dating violence (TDV) awareness education; yet, little research has examined how school districts are interpreting and implementing these policies. In a state that mandates such education for parents and children, and within a large urban city serving primary Hispanic youth, the present article assessed the types of TDV awareness education being provided in public schools, including the accessibility of this information. Specifically, we contacted independent school districts (ISDs; N= 10, serving over 15,000 youth) directly to assess whether and which TDV education programs were being implemented. We also assessed whether awareness education was being disseminated via school websites in the form of a policy on TDV, as well as whether additional information pertaining to TDV (e.g., resources, programs) was available. Results are discussed, highlighting the need for use of evidence-based programming, awareness accessibility, and culturally appropriate materials for Hispanic parents and youth.

A Comparative Analysis Of Audit Service Supply Using Desk And Working Paper Reviews

<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify; margin: 0in 0.5in 0pt;"><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times New Roman;">The Texas Education Agency (TEA) performs extensive reviews of audit working papers for selected Texas school district audits to evaluate the quality of audit services rendered by independent accountants. These reviews are referred to as Quality Control Reviews (QCRs). The TEA also conducts desk reviews of all audited financial statements issued by Texas independent school districts. During the desk review process, the TEA performs a limited check of the accuracy of financial statement amounts, completeness of financial disclosures, and existence of proper audit output. Prior research suggests that desk reviews and quality control reviews both measure audit quality (Colbert and O&rsquo;Keefe 1995; Copley et al. 1994; Deis and Giroux 1992, 1996; Giroux et al. 1995; O&rsquo;Keefe and Westort 1992; O&rsquo;Keefe et al. 1994). The purpose of the paper is to determine if desk reviews capture the same audit quality information as quality control reviews. If so, regulators should focus resources on desk reviews since they are more timely and economical than QCRs. The results of the study, however, indicate that desk reviews and quality control reviews do not measure the same constructs. The findings suggest that desk reviews measure the industry specific knowledge of the auditor, which is only one aspect of audit quality. Moreover, it was observed that some audits passing the desk review were graded low in quality by the working paper review. This finding suggests that low audit quality may be more prevalent than generally suspected and that steps to improve audit quality and auditor credibility are warranted.<strong style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"></strong></span></span></p>

The Scope of Bargaining and Bargaining Outcomes in the Public Schools

This study examines state-to-state variations in the legality of bargaining over class size in public schools, to determine, first, whether these variations in the legal scope of bargaining bear any relationship to actual class sizes and, second, whether these variations are indirectly associated with teachers' salaries. Using a model of the quality of education to analyze data from the 1977 Census of Governments on 4,851 independent school districts, the author concludes that restrictions on class-size bargaining are associated with both larger student-teacher ratios and higher teachers' salaries. He also finds that the availability of voluntary arbitration and the limited right to strike are related to lower student-teacher ratios.