No abstract

A meta-analysis of 58 studies was performed in which IQ, academic achievement, and behavior characteristics were examined across students with learning disabilities (LD), mild intellectual disabilities (MID), and emotional/behavioral disabilities (E/BD). The effect sizes between students with LD and MID were the largest in the domains of IQ and academic achievement, and the differences involving pupils with E/BD versus those with LD and MID were largest in the behavior realm. Very little disparity was found when comparing (a) those with LD and students with E/BD on IQ measures, and (b) pupils with LD and those with MID in behavior. Implications for cross-categorical and noncategorical special education are discussed.

Two studies on young children are reported, addressing the psychometric characteristics of the Scale for Assessing Emotional Disturbance (SAED), a standardized, norm-referenced instrument based on the federal definition of emotional disturbance (ED). The main purpose of the SAED is to assist in identifying children with emotional disturbance by operationally defining ED as stated in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act Amendments of 1997. The first study investigated the long-term test—retest reliability of the SAED over a 7-month period. The second study examined the convergent validity of the SAED by comparing it with several subscales of the Systematic Screening for Behavior Disorders, a multigate screening system to identify children at risk of behavior problems. The results indicate that the SAED is a reliable and valid instrument for identifying young children who may qualify for the federal definition of ED.

Subjects studied were 249 seriously emotionally disturbed students (204 boys, 45 girls) ranging in age from 7 to 19 years. Data included 10. teacher's estimate of academic performance in core academic areas, amount of time spent in regular classes or other educational placements, and scores on the Quay-Peterson Behavior Problem Checklist. The sample was below average in IQ and estimated academic achievement. Approximately one-half of the sample were placed for part of the day in regular classes. Those with higher IQs tended to be placed more often in mainstream settings, but academic achievement estimates and type of behavior problem were not clearly related to placement. IQ and academic achievement estimates were significantly related, but IQ was predictive of neither the amount nor the kind of problem behavior. However, BPC factor score was related to estimated reading achievement, poor reading performance was related to high scores on Conduct Disorder and Socialized Delinquency, and high estimated academic performance was related to Personality Problem and Inadequacy-Immaturity. Implications of the findings for prevalence estimates and composition of special education programs for seriously emotionally disturbed students are discussed.

The purpose of this article was to survey state departments of education regarding their definitions of behavior disorders. Forty-nine state definitions were analyzed based on their alignment to 11 criteria components. The data indicated a wide discrepancy between the states as to what constitutes a behavior disorder. The results are discussed in terms of the shortcomings of many of the definitions and in terms of the changes which have occurred in state definitions over the years. Specific recommendations regarding the need to operationalize the definitions are presented.