Special Education Reform: Districts Grapple with Inclusion Programs
(Testimony, 04/28/94, GAO/T-HEHS-94-160).

In an inclusion program, all students, no matter what their
disabilities, are taught in a general education classroom.  If inclusion
programs become widespread, 3.2 million disabled students now assigned
to segregated special education classrooms could be affected.  This is
one of the most hotly debated, high-visibility issues in the education
of disabled students.  GAO testified that inclusion programs can work,
but they take tremendous efforts and considerable resources.  Some of
those GAO spoke with--parents, teachers, and administrators--generally
supported these programs because of the positive effects observed for
the students with disabilities, their nondisabled classmates, and school
staff.  But the necessary levels of effort and resources may not be
possible for many districts.  A number of educators and parents gave the
following advice to districts attempting inclusion programs: Go slow.

--------------------------- Indexing Terms -----------------------------

 REPORTNUM:  T-HEHS-94-160
     TITLE:  Special Education Reform: Districts Grapple with Inclusion 
             Programs
      DATE:  04/28/94
   SUBJECT:  Special education
             Learning disability problems
             Educational programs
             Educational grants
             State-administered programs
             Aid for education
             Handicapped persons
             Elementary schools
             Elementary school students
             Program evaluation
IDENTIFIER:  California
             Kentucky
             New York
             Vermont
             Dept. of Education Systems Change Grant
             Dept. of Education Chapter 1 Program for Educationally 
             Disadvantaged Children
             
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