William D. Bursuck

A Comparison of Students with Learning Disabilities to Low Achieving and Higher Achieving Students on Three Dimensions of Social Competence

Research continues to accumulate attesting to the fact that many children with learning disabilities are experiencing social difficulties in school. Nonetheless, it is also clear that achievement deficits, with or without the presence of a handicapping condition, are also related to social problems in the classroom. Several studies attempting to clarify the relative roles of handicapping condition and achievement in social adjustment have produced mixed results. The purpose of the present study was to clarify this issue further by examining the social differences between elementary school students with learning disabilities and other low achieving and higher achieving children on three social dimensions: sociometric status, behavior as rated by teachers, and self-ratings of social competence. The results indicated that the children with learning disabilities may be at higher risk socially than their low achieving and higher achieving peers. Variables that may account for these results are discussed as well as directions for future research.

Nationwide Survey of Postsecondary Education Services for Students with Learning Disabilities

Postsecondary services for students with learning disabilities vary a great deal from campus to campus, and published guides to postsecondary education services are often inaccurate and incomplete. A nationwide survey was conducted to investigate student service provisions in 2-year colleges and 4-year colleges and universities. The purpose of the study was to identify and catalog postsecondary education service goals and options for students with learning disabilities, and to determine differences between the goals service providers have for these students and services actually provided. The findings and their implications for service providers at both high school and college levels are discussed.

Report Card Grading and Adaptations: A National Survey of Classroom Practices

A national survey of elementary and secondary general education teachers (N = 368, response rate of 52%) was conducted to determine the classroom grading practices of general education teachers, including grading adaptations for students with disabilities. Results of this self report survey indicated that teachers find letter and number grades more helpful for students without disabilities than for those with disabilities. Results also indicated that teachers find certain grading adaptations—such as pass-fail grades, portfolios, multiple grades, and grading for effort—helpful for students both with and without disabilities. Implications for training, research, and practice are included.

Evaluating the Impact of a Prevention-Based Model of Reading on Children Who Are At Risk

Large numbers of students are not benefiting from current reading curricula and practices. However, despite the presence of a scientifically validated basis for teaching reading, the nuances of exactly how to translate beginning reading research into day-to-day classroom practice remain to be validated. In this article, beginning literacy outcomes for the instructional practices employed in Project PRIDE are presented. Project PRIDE is a model for preventing reading failure that employs a combination of systematic, explicit instruction in phonemic awareness and phonics with a total classroom reading program; a multitiered teaching approach; data-based decision making; and professional development that includes ongoing, on-site coaching. The effects of 2 years of PRIDE implementation in three inner-city schools in a medium-sized midwestern city are presented, and the implications of these findings for current practice and future research are discussed.

Homework Practices of General Education Teachers

The purpose of this study was to survey the homework practices of general education teachers who teach students with disabilities. A national sample of 441 elementary, middle, and senior high teachers were asked about their homework practices, including their use of adaptations for students with disabilities. The results highlight homework practices and adaptations that are used frequently and perceived by teachers as helpful for students with disabilities. Also discussed are the differences in practices and adaptations across elementary, middle, and high school teachers, as well as the instructional implications of the identified homework practices for students with disabilities and their general education teachers.

Homework A Survey of Policies in the United States

Homework is a key area of concern in our nations public schools, as well as a central element of collaboration between home and school. The purpose of the current study was to survey the policies of a national sample of school districts concerning homework. Specific foci of the survey included whether a homework policy had been instituted, if modifications were made in the policy for students with disabilities, the types of homework, the length and frequency of assignments given, and specific communication mechanisms between home and school. A total of 550 surveys were mailed, with a response rate of 48.5%. The results indicated that only 35.2% of school divisions did have a policy on homework, with 64.4% of those policies including modifications for students with disabilities. Findings in terms of frequency and amount of homework assigned, as well as home-school communication mechanisms, are highlighted. The results are discussed within the context of policy development and instructional implications.Homework is a key area of concern in our nations public schools, as well as a central element of collaboration between home and school. The purpose of the current study was to survey the policies of a national sample of school districts concerning homework. Specific foci of the survey included whether a homework policy had been instituted, if modifications were made in the policy for students with disabilities, the types of homework, the length and frequency of assignments given, and specific communication mechanisms between home and school. A total of 550 surveys were mailed, with a response rate of 48.5%. The results indicated that only 35.2% of school divisions did have a policy on homework, with 64.4% of those policies including modifications for students with disabilities. Findings in terms of frequency and amount of homework assigned, as well as home—school communication mechanisms, are highlighted. The results are discussed within the context of policy development and instructional implications.

Treatment Acceptability: Determining Appropriate Interventions Within Inclusive Classrooms

Discusses the likelihood that teachers will accept various interventions for adapting instruction and accommodating students with disabilities in the general education classroom, emphasizing the areas of homework, grading, and testing

Classroom Grading: A National Survey of Policies

Acritical area of concern to teachers, administrators, students, and parents is the evaluation and grading of student performance. the topic of grading takes on added significance when consideration is given to the grading of students with disabilities and to the related effects on collaboration between home and school. A national survey was conducted, with the purpose being to determine the policies of local school districts concerning grading. Specific foci included whether a policy was in effect, if modifications were made for students with disabilities, the nature of grading systems used, and communication mechanisms between home and school. A total of 550 surveys were mailed to school district superintendents, with a response rate of over 40%. The results indicated that a majority of school divisions had a policy on grading in effect and that the policies in effect included modifications for students with disabilities. Trends in terms of grading systems used and communication mechanisms employed are highlighted. The results are discussed in terms of their relationship to home-school collaboration and in the context of integrating students with disabilities into general education.

Sociometric Status, Behavior Ratings, and Social Knowledge of Learning Disabled and Low-Achieving Students.

A significant relationship between academic achievement and peer popularity has long been established. Nonetheless, the role of achievement in mediating social differences between learning disabled children and their nondisabled peers remains unclear. The goal of this research was to clarify the contribution of academic achievement to learning disabled childrens social competence. Third and fourth-grade LD boys were compared to a group of low-achieving, third and fourth graders matched on sex, race, grade, classroom and reading achievement. No significant differences were found between these two groups in terms of levels of classroom acceptance, social knowledge, and social behavior as rated by their regular classroom teachers. Likely variables accounting for these results are discussed as well as directions for future research.

Homework-Communication Problems Among Parents, Classroom Teachers, and Special Education Teachers An Exploratory Study

The purpose of this study was to identify the communication problems that exist between home and school, particularly as these problems relate to homework given to students with mild disabilities in general education classes. Subjects for this study were 15 parents of students with mild disabilities, 14 special education teachers of students with mild disabilities, and 14 classroom teachers who taught students with mild disabilities in their classes. Nine focus groups were conducted: three with parents, three with classroom teachers, and three with special education teachers. Participants identified six major homework-communication problems. These involved initiation, frequency, timing, consistency, follow-through, and clarity and usefulness of communication. Other results, limitations of the study, and future research needs are also discussed.