Inclusion in Schools

Inclusion in Schools Inclusion has been a heated topic of debate for the past few years. It is a relatively new term that has only been around for about 15 years or so. Therefore, it is widely misunderstood. What exactly is inclusion? According to Spencer J. Salend, the author of the textbook, Creating Inclusive Classrooms, “inclusion is the philosophy for educating students with disabilities in general education settings” (Salend, 2001, p.43). Inclusive education means that all students in a school, regardless of their strengths or weaknesses in any area become part of the school community. As indicated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and section 504 of the Vocational Rehabilitation Act, “a free and appropriate public education (FAPE) is mandated for students with disabilities. The placement of disabled students must be in the least restrictive environment (LRE), which is the environment closest to the general classroom in which the student’s individual needs can be met. This placement can be in a special class, resource room, or the general classroom with or without consultative services” (Summer, 1994). Other least restrictive environments can include home instruction and hospitals. The law of inclusion simply states that students with disabilities must receive free education in their least restricted environment. Along with the definition of inclusion, there is another misunderstanding about inclusion. The terms mainstreaming and inclusion are often confused with one another and are used interchangeably in education today. This contradiction in usage has led to some confusion about inclusion. Mainstreaming is where students with disabilities are sent from a special education class to a regular class for specific periods throughout the day, whereas inclusion focuses on keeping a disabled child in a regular classroom for nearly the whole school day. I have included a Mainstreaming vs. Inclusion fact sheet at

References: Fact Sheet: Mainstreaming vs. Inclusion. (2004). Retrieved on December 2, 2004 from the Youngstown State University website: http://cc.ysu.edu/~raalley/factsheetmainstreaming.html             Issues About Change: Inclusion: The Pros and Cons. (1999). Retrieved on December 5, 2004 from the Southwestern Educational Development Laboratory website: http://www.sedl.org/change/issues/issues43.html             Salend, Spencer J. (2001) Creating Inclusive Classrooms: Effective and Reflective Practices for All Students: Fifth Edition., New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.             Schultz, Jerome J., Ph.D. (1998) Inclusion & Learning Disabilities: Frequently Asked Questions. Retrieved on December 5, 2004 from the LD Online website: http://www.ldonline.org/articles/5901             Summer, Peter & John. (1994). Learning Disabilities: Inclusion. Retrieved December 5, 2004 from the Curry School of Education website: http://curry.edschool.virginia.edu/sped/projects/ose/information/uvald/inclusion.html