The paper presents a rationale for the use of an educational model for meeting the mental health needs of children and youth. Implications of the current federal definition are examined relative to programing needs in academic, social, emotional, psychotic behavior, and career education areas. (Author/CL)

The article addresses the exclusion of social maladjustment from the federal definition of serious emotional disturbance and proposes a limited interpretation which would prevent the inappropriate exclusion of students with antisocial behavior from special education services. Briefly discussed are related issues of identification and programing.…