Preschool Programming: Legal and Educational Issues

Abstract

This article examines two legal issues regarding service provision for preschool-aged handicapped students. Those issues are what constitutes an appropriate program in terms of the intensity (frequency) of program and the length of day (full vs. half), and how should the least restrictive environment provision of mainstreaming of handicapped and nonhandicapped children be applied to this population. Applicable laws and hearing results are presented, as is information from research studies examining effects of differing levels of program intensity and mainstreaming situations.