Full Inclusion and the Education of Children and Youth with Emotional and Behavioral Disorders

Abstract

The recent professional literature has been replete with articles focusing on the school reform movement labeled full inclusion whereby advocates are pushing for the placement of all students with disabilities in general education settings. While the movement's roots can be traced to advocates of persons with severe handicaps, educators, administrators, and parents are generalizing the movement's goals to students with other disabilities including emotional and behavioral disorders. Related issues surrounding the full inclusion movement must be examined prior to wide adaptation for all students with disabilities. The purpose of this article is to explore three relevant issues in determining appropriate placements for students with emotional and behavioral disorders. First, this article examines some of the current objectives of the full inclusion movement in relation to the education of students with emotional and behavioral disorders. Second, issues surrounding the placement of students with disabilities are often resolved not in professional literature but in courtrooms; therefore, current court cases focusing on inclusion that impact how special education services are delivered are also summarized. Finally, provided a general education setting is the most appropriate placement, promising practices for educating students with emotional and behavioral disorders to maximize their success are discussed.