Ireland's system of special education has undergone unprecedented change over the last three decades. Following major policy developments in the mid-2000s which emphasised inclusive education, there have been changes to special education school personnel and funding structures which seek to include greater numbers of students with disabilities in…

The article traces the history of mass segregation of handicapped students in U.S. public schools, notes the advent of the concepts of mainstreaming and least restrictive environment, and analyzes such ramifications of mainstreaming as increased numbers of handicapped students in college and re-emergence of "tracking" or ability grouping. (CL)

The characteristics and functions of effective special education and integrated programs are evaluated in the light of current educational trends toward integration. (GW)

Developments in the integration of handicapped children in the educational system of Ontario, Canada are reviewed. (GW)

Data from the 1985-86 Annual Survey of Hearing Impaired Children and Youth indicated that fewer students are enrolled in special schools. This article discusses possible consequences of movement of deaf students into the local schools and questions whether local schools can provide the educational resources and special services needed by these…

The author examines trends in special education of the past five years, including court cases, emphasis on mainstreaming, categorization schemes, and behavior modification schemes, and makes projections for the next five years. (MJB)

Analysis of placement and exit data on students with mental retardation (MR) found in annual reports on implementation of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act indicated an upward trend in educating students with mental retardation in general education classrooms, a decline in graduation rates with a diploma or certificate, and a greater…

The historical review places mainstreaming of exceptional children in the context of special education developments since World War II and recent legislation. The period since the War is noted to have produced an expansion of special education services. Among pressures described for changing the emphasis on special class placement are the…

The current trend toward regular class placement of exceptional children is discussed in light of the logic and research related to the self-contained special class. (Author)

Examination of data from the "Annual Reports to Congress on the Implementation of Public Law 94-142" from 1979 through 1989 revealed that the placement rate for students with learning disabilities being educated in restrictive, separate class settings almost doubled. The proportion of all students with learning disabilities served in…

The report of the proceedings of the 1970 convention of the Council for Exceptional Children includes papers on the arguments for and against special class placement. Discussions concern themselves with love of life, truth, and others by Matt Trippe, the efficacy of special placement for educable mentally handicapped children by John W. Kidd, and…

This report updates an earlier study on educational placements of children with mental retardation, comparing data from the 1989-90 school year with the 1990-91 school year. The data indicate that regular class placements increased from 6.7 percent to 7.4 percent from 1989-90 to 1990-91. Resource room placements increased from 20.1 to 23 percent,…

This one-page abstract summarizes results of a final report of a federally funded research project titled, "Research Integration Project: Analysis and Review of Research on Least Restrictive Environments for Handicapped Learners." The goal of the project was the review, analysis, and interpretation of research on the concept of…

This article sees the inclusion movement as leading to the rapid erosion of placement options for students with disabilities and notes that no single classroom can be appropriately, habilitatively restrictive for all children. It suggests that advocates of full inclusion deny realities, rights, and responsibilities involved in constructing the…

The article examines the omission of special education as a focus of concern in recent national reports and analyses concerned with excellence in education, including negative implications for low-achieving students and those currently receiving special services. The effect of current political and economic variables on educational trends is…