Superintendents, central office administrators, principals, school board members and students in the field of education will find this book to be useful in guiding their own professional development and practice. The authors cover a variety of useful topics in special education, ranging from finances, how to systematically monitor the assignment of paraprofessionals, and transportation, to legal considerations and methods of promoting parent engagement.

Co-editors Bittel and Young invited seasoned educators and professionals to share their expertise in a wide range of important subjects that collectively promote an understanding of how to transform special education programs and service delivery in public school settings. Chapter topics were intentionally selected to address the common special education program challenges facing school superintendents; and the focus throughout this book was on providing practical suggestions to improve actual practice. As such, current and aspiring educational leaders and policy-makers who are interested in learning more about how to successfully tackle some of the more complex challenges in special education while find this book to be an invaluable resource.

By Nicholas D. Young and Peter Bittel

Introduction

Acknowledgements

The Superintendent's Role in Special Education Leadership David Larson Ph.D., Herbert Levine, Ph.D., Dominick Vita Ph.D. & Nicholas Young Ph.D., Ed.D.
Organizational, Personnel and Fiscal Considerations in the Oversight of Special Education Services Brian Edwards, M.Ed. & Dominick C. Vita, Ph.D.

Forming a Necessary Partnership: Engaging the Families of Special NeedsStudents

Peter Davies, MA & Christine N. Michael, Ph.D.
Rethinking the Assignment of Paraprofessionals: Ensuring Students are Well Served Within Budget Constraints Peter J. Bittel, Ed.D., Nicholas D. Young, Ph.D., Ed.D. & Michael Neiman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Methods to Meet the Budget Challenges in Special EducationPeter Bittel, Ed.D. & Herb Levine, Ph.D.
NCLB and IDEA: Related Services and the LawPeter Bittel, Ed.D., CCC-SLP, Erin Edwards, M.A., CCC- SLP, Herbert Levine, Ph.D., Michael Neiman, Ph.D., CCC-SLP, & Wendy C. Reed, Esq.
Superintendent's Use of Special Education Data and Performance Measures in an Environment of AccountabilityGeorge David Jack, M.Ed., MBA
Special Education Transportation: Why is it Expensive and What Can Be Done to Reduce the Cost Richard Labrie, M.Ed.


Biographies

References