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ERIC - EJ1044689 - Social Maladjustment and Special Education: State Regulations and Continued Controversy, Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 2014-Dec
<!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <script async src="https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtag/js?id=G-Q61Y5YWXL4"></script><script>window.dataLayer=window.dataLayer || [];function gtag(){dataLayer.push(arguments);}gtag('js',new Date());gtag('config','G-Q61Y5YWXL4',{'ericID':'EJ1044689'});</script><title>ERIC - EJ1044689 - Social Maladjustment and Special Education: State Regulations and Continued Controversy, Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 2014-Dec</title><meta name="description" content="The federal definition of emotional disturbance (ED) includes a social maladjustment (SM) exclusion clause that stipulates that students are not eligible for special education services if they are determined to be "socially maladjusted" and not also meeting criteria for ED. This clause has long been criticized for being ambiguous and confusing. Although the clause is not defined in federal regulations, it remains in each new reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (most recent, Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act [IDEIA], 2004). This study provides an updated review of state practices regarding the use and interpretation of the clause, which has not been conducted since 1994. We examined state definitions, clarifications to terminology, and assessment recommendations to determine whether inconsistencies continue to exist across states. We present the results of a national survey that examined state and local school"><meta name="citation_abstract" content="The federal definition of emotional disturbance (ED) includes a social maladjustment (SM) exclusion clause that stipulates that students are not eligible for special education services if they are determined to be "socially maladjusted" and not also meeting criteria for ED. This clause has long been criticized for being ambiguous and confusing. Although the clause is not defined in federal regulations, it remains in each new reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (most recent, Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act [IDEIA], 2004). This study provides an updated review of state practices regarding the use and interpretation of the clause, which has not been conducted since 1994. We examined state definitions, clarifications to terminology, and assessment recommendations to determine whether inconsistencies continue to exist across states. We present the results of a national survey that examined state and local school"> <meta name="eric #" content="EJ1044689" /> <meta name="citation_title" content="Social Maladjustment and Special Education: State Regulations and Continued Controversy." /> <meta name="citation_author" content="Cloth, Allison H." /> <meta name="citation_author" content="Evans, Steven W." /> <meta name="citation_author" content="Becker, Stephen P." /> <meta name="citation_author" content="Paternite, Carl E." /> <meta name="citation_volume" content="22" /> <meta name="citation_issue" content="4" /> <meta name="citation_firstpage" content="214" /> <meta name="citation_lastpage" content="224" /> <meta name="descriptors" content="Social Adjustment; Special Education; State Regulation; National Surveys; Emotional Disturbances; Federal Legislation; Definitions; State Policy; At Risk Persons; Mental Health; Clinical Diagnosis" /> <meta name="citation_keywords" content="Social Adjustment; Special Education; State Regulation; National Surveys; Emotional Disturbances; Federal Legislation; Definitions; State Policy; At Risk Persons; Mental Health; Clinical Diagnosis" /> <meta name="citation_journal_title" content="Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders" /> <meta name="journal citation" content="v22 n4 p214-224 Dec 2014" /> <meta name="citation_publication_date" content="2014/12/00" /> <meta name="citation_issn" content="ISSN-1063-4266" /> <meta name="citation_publisher" content="SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com" /> <meta name="citation_language" content="en" /> <meta name="languages" content="English" /> <meta name="identifiers" content="Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004" /> <meta name="source" content="Journal" /> <meta name="level" content="3" /> <meta name="sponsors" content="Institute of Education Sciences (ED)" /> <meta name="grant_or_contract_number" content="R324C080011" /> <meta name="grant_or_contract_number" content="R324C080006" /> <meta name="page-topic" content="Social Adjustment; Special Education; State Regulation; National Surveys; Emotional Disturbances; Federal Legislation; Definitions; State Policy; At Risk Persons; Mental Health; Clinical Diagnosis" /> <meta name="page-type" content="" /> <meta name="rating" content="All" /><link rel="shortcut icon" href="favicon.ico" type="image/x-icon" /><link rel="stylesheet" href="css/eric.css?v=0.9" media="all"><link rel="image_src" href="img/icon_fbshare.png"><script type="text/javascript" src="js/jquery-3.5.1.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="js/respond.min.js"></script><script type="text/javascript" src="js/eric.js?v=0.8"></script> <script type="text/javascript">$(function() {dser();});</script> </head> <body id="bdyMain"> <div id="main"> <div id="actionbar"><a href="?note">Notes</a><a href="?faq">FAQ</a><a href="?contact">Contact Us</a></div><div id="logo"><a href="?" id="aHome" title="ERIC Home"><img src="img/eric_results.png" id="imgLogo" alt="ERIC - Institute of Education Sciences" /></a></div> <div id="sbar"> <form id="f"> <div> <div id="tab1" class="sTab"><span>Collection</span></div> <div id="tab1b" class="sTab"><a href="#thesaurus">Thesaurus</a></div> <a id="atips" href="?advanced">Advanced<br />Search Tips</a> <input id="s" type="text" name="q" placeholder="Search education resources" /> <input type="submit" value="Search" /> </div> <div id="sopt"> <label><input type="checkbox" name="pr" /> Peer reviewed only</label> <label><input type="checkbox" name="ft" /> Full text available on ERIC</label> </div> </form> <form id="ft" style="display:none"> <div> <div id="tab2b" class="sTab"><a href="#collection">Collection</a></div> <div id="tab2" class="sTab"><span>Thesaurus</span></div> <a id="attips" href="?ti=all">Browse<br />Thesaurus</a> <input id="st" type="text" name="qt" placeholder="Search thesaurus descriptors" /> <input type="submit" value="Search" /> </div> <div id="soptt"> <label><input type="checkbox" name="ts" /> Include Synonyms</label> <label><input type="checkbox" name="td" /> Include Dead terms</label> </div> </form> </div> <div id="i"><div id="details" class="record"><div></div><div id="r_colR"><div class="r_f"><img src="img/reviewed_large.png" alt="Peer reviewed" /> Peer reviewed<br /><a target="_blank" title="http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1063426613487405" href="?redir=http%3a%2f%2fdx.doi.org%2f10.1177%2f1063426613487405"><img src="img/directLink.png" alt="Direct link" />Direct link</a><br /></div><div style="font-size:0.8em;padding-top:4px;padding-left:8px"><div><strong>ERIC Number:</strong> EJ1044689</div><div><strong>Record Type:</strong> Journal</div><div><strong>Publication Date:</strong> 2014-Dec</div><div><strong>Pages:</strong> 11</div><div><strong>Abstractor:</strong> As Provided</div><div><strong>ISBN:</strong> N/A</div><div><strong>ISSN:</strong> ISSN-1063-4266</div><div><strong>EISSN:</strong> N/A</div></div></div><div class="title">Social Maladjustment and Special Education: State Regulations and Continued Controversy</div><div class="r_a"><div style="margin:0;padding:4px 0">Cloth, Allison H.; Evans, Steven W.; Becker, Stephen P.; Paternite, Carl E.</div><div style="margin:0;color:#222;"><cite>Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders</cite>, v22 n4 p214-224 Dec 2014</div></div><div><div style="margin-right:232px"><div class="abstract">The federal definition of emotional disturbance (ED) includes a social maladjustment (SM) exclusion clause that stipulates that students are not eligible for special education services if they are determined to be "socially maladjusted" and not also meeting criteria for ED. This clause has long been criticized for being ambiguous and confusing. Although the clause is not defined in federal regulations, it remains in each new reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (most recent, Individuals With Disabilities Education Improvement Act [IDEIA], 2004). This study provides an updated review of state practices regarding the use and interpretation of the clause, which has not been conducted since 1994. We examined state definitions, clarifications to terminology, and assessment recommendations to determine whether inconsistencies continue to exist across states. We present the results of a national survey that examined state and local school professionals' reported practices regarding the exclusion and compared it with the policy of the state in which each respondent resides. Results indicated that states are moving toward the adoption of the federal definition of ED, which includes the clause. This is the case even though state regulations, and staff-reported use and knowledge of the clause continue to be inconsistent across states.</div><div class="keywords">Descriptors: <a href="?ti=Social+Adjustment">Social Adjustment</a>, <a href="?ti=Special+Education">Special Education</a>, <a href="?ti=State+Regulation">State Regulation</a>, <a href="?ti=National+Surveys">National Surveys</a>, <a href="?ti=Emotional+Disturbances">Emotional Disturbances</a>, <a href="?ti=Federal+Legislation">Federal Legislation</a>, <a href="?ti=Definitions">Definitions</a>, <a href="?ti=State+Policy">State Policy</a>, <a href="?ti=At+Risk+Persons">At Risk Persons</a>, <a href="?ti=Mental+Health">Mental Health</a>, <a href="?ti=Clinical+Diagnosis">Clinical Diagnosis</a></div><div style="font-style:italic;font-size:0.9em">SAGE Publications and Hammill Institute on Disabilities. 2455 Teller Road, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320. Tel: 800-818-7243; Tel: 805-499-9774; Fax: 800-583-2665; e-mail: journals@sagepub.com; Web site: http://sagepub.com</div></div></div><div class="clear"></div><div class="sInfo"><div><div><strong>Publication Type:</strong> Journal Articles; Reports - Research</div><div><strong>Education Level:</strong> N/A</div><div><strong>Audience:</strong> N/A</div><div><strong>Language:</strong> English</div><div><strong>Sponsor:</strong> Institute of Education Sciences (ED)</div><div><strong>Authoring Institution:</strong> N/A</div><div><strong>Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs:</strong> Individuals with Disabilities Education Act; Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act 2004</div><div><strong>IES Funded:</strong> Yes</div><div><strong>Grant or Contract Numbers:</strong> <a target="_blank" title="http://ies.ed.gov/funding/grantsearch/details.asp?ID=683" href="http://ies.ed.gov/funding/grantsearch/details.asp?ID=683">R324C080011</a>; <a target="_blank" title="http://ies.ed.gov/funding/grantsearch/details.asp?ID=684" href="http://ies.ed.gov/funding/grantsearch/details.asp?ID=684">R324C080006</a></div></div></div><div class="clear" style="margin:0"></div></div></div> <div id="divFooter"><div id="ftrPadding"><div id="ftr"><div id="ftrSocial"> <a href="http://www.facebook.com/SearchEduResources" id="facebook" style="padding-bottom:5px"><img src="img/icon_facebook.gif" alt="Facebook" width="16" height="16" border="0"></a> <a href="http://www.twitter.com/ERICinfo" id="twitter"><img src="img/icon_twitter.gif" alt="Twitter" width="16" height="16" border="0"></a></div><div id="ftrLogos"><a href="http://www.ed.gov"><img src="img/logo_ed.gif" alt="Department of Education"></a><a href="http://ies.ed.gov"><img src="img/logo_ies.gif" alt="Institute of Education Statistics"></a></div><div id="centerLinks"><a href="?privacy">Privacy</a> | <a href="?copyright">Copyright</a> | <a href="?contact">Contact Us</a> | <a href="?selection">Selection Policy</a> | <a href="?api">API</a> | <a href="metrics">Metrics</a><div><a href="?journals">Journals</a> | <a href="?nonjournals">Non-Journals</a> | <a href="?download">Download</a> | <a href="submit">Submit</a> | <a href="?multimedia">Multimedia</a> | <a href="?widget">Widget</a></div></div></div><script id="_fed_an_ua_tag" language="javascript" type="text/javascript" src="/js/Universal-Federated-Analytics-Min.js?pga4=55622235&agency=ED&subagency=ERIC"></script></div></div> </div> <script type="text/javascript">//<![CDATA[ if(self!=top) {top.location=self.location;} //]]></script> </body> </html>