Mainstreaming

With the passing of the Education for all handicapped Children Act in 1975, schools began experimenting with mainstreaming. This meant students were placed in a regular education classroom. The next step was actual inclusion- not just placed there, but engaged. This act later became IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act 1991).

Because students needed to be engaged, resource rooms and self-contained classrooms came about. I would argue this is not inclusion. Students who are not in a regular education classroom are not being included.

The Regular Education Initiative of 1986 was proposed by Madeleine Will, then-Assistant Secretary for the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services. She had concerns about unintended negative effects of special ed pull-outs. She suggested mainstreaming into the regular education setting.