Keeping the Special in Special Education

The field of education is constantly undergoing change; from curriculum expectations to standardized testing, modern education is highly dependent on expanding research and knowledge. Special education has especially progressed recently, particularly in regard to a new trend known as mainstreaming. Current research provided by The National Center for Special Education Research claims that mainstreaming is the newest and most efficient method of learning for all students with disabilities. While there are many positives of mainstreaming, including both academic and social components, the implementation of this program within schools is quite vague and flawed. The plethora of drawbacks of mainstreaming outweigh its benefits, creating a need for a new system in the field of special education. Since such a broad range of disabilities exist, individualized differentiation is necessary. By analyzing the different perspectives of all parties involved, including the child with the disabilities, the teacher, the parent, and the other students within the classroom, along with the history of special education laws, a more efficient method of instruction for special education students is possible. The objective of this research is to analyze the current system in place and present possible changes for enhancement