Graduate Program

School Psychology

Degree Name

Specialist in School Psychology

Semester of Degree Completion

1995

Thesis Director

J. Michael Havey

Abstract

The availability of special education and remedial services within the South Wisconsin District-Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod elementary schools was investigated. A teacher and the principal from fifty-three schools were surveyed. The schools represented urban, suburban, and rural areas. Thirty-eight principals and thirty-seven teachers responded to the questionnaire. The principal questionnaire consisted of fifteen fill-in-the-blank questions and addressed information regarding remedial and exceptional education programs. The teacher questionnaire was a thirteen item rating format addressing the teacher's perceptions of his/her skills in remediation and exceptional education. The results indicated that a higher percentage of students received remedial services than exceptional education services. Additionally, statewide statistics show that the state serves a larger number of students with identified disabilities per student population than South Wisconsin District - Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod elementary schools. Many of the teachers felt that they had average skills in their ability to identify disabilities or provide appropriate services. Teachers who either had a masters degree or had training in the area of special education rated their skills as "very adequate". This suggests that the South Wisconsin District-Lutheran Church-Missouri Synod needs to provide its regular education teachers with more training in this area or begin providing more exceptional education services for its students.

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