Michigan State University Extension
Diversity and Pluralism - DP130061
12/95/
ERIC TITLE NUMBER: ED332477 AUTHOR: Bogie, Donald W.; Martin, Larry
TITLE: An Analysis of Child Count Data and Personnel Needs
in Special Education Programs in Alabama.
YEAR PUBLISHED: 1991
NOTE: 44 p.; Prepared for the Alabama Department of
Education, Division of Special Education Services.
ABSTRACT: The study analyzed data concerning students
enrolled in special education classes in Alabama's 130 (67
county and 63 city) public school systems, including
student counts by age, grade in school, school district,
type of exceptionality, and personnel needs. Analysis
indicated a considerable variation among school systems in
the distribution of exceptionality types, the proportion of
special education students at different age and grade
levels, teacher/pupil ratios in special education classes,
and the reported need for additional special education
teachers. Possible causes for these differences may include
random variations, referral patterns, a shortage of well
trained administrators and teachers, community pressures,
and discrepancies in classification procedures according to
race. The major demographic correlates of general rates of
exceptionality included population growth, employment in
selected white-collar occupations, income, and residence in
urban locales--all of which were found to be positively
associated with both the rate of exceptionality and the
teacher/pupil ratio. The proportions of the population
classified as "black" or residing in urban areas were also
highly correlated with several specific categories of
exceptionality. Results have implications for testing
procedures and interpretation as well as implementation of
policy guidelines for placement of students in special
education programs. (DB)
KEY DESCRIPTORS: Age-Differences; Demography-; Elementary
Secondary-Education; Handicap-Identification; Referral-;
Rural-Education; School-Districts; Student-Characteristics;
Teacher-Student-Ratio; Teacher-Supply-and-Demand; Urban
Education
KEY DESCRIPTORS: *Disabilities-; *Incidence-; *Racial
Differences; *State-Surveys; *Student-Placement
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following ERIC TITLE NUMBER indicates an ERIC document,
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floor of the west wing. All you need is the six digit ED
number. If EJ follows ERIC TITLE NUMBER the item is a
journal article. The complete journal name is listed after
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This file was generated from data base DP on 06/25/02.
Data base DP was last revised on 12/95/ .
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