Regular Education Initiative

The regular education initiative (REI) is a movement that supports the integration of special needs education with that of mainstream schooling. REI proposes that all children, regardless of disability, learn under a single unified educational program rather than in separate classrooms or schools. This entry describes the historical background of the REI, arguments for and against the movement, and the subsequent policies and laws that have been introduced since the REI to support inclusion in education.

What Is the Regular Education Initiative?

Before the 1950s, the segregation of children with disabilities from public schools into special programs was widely accepted. As the number of those diagnosed with disabilities grew, concerns for these children’s academic and social development saw a movement away from segregation toward integration. The Kennedy ...

  • Loading...
locked icon

Sign in to access this content

Get a 30 day FREE TRIAL

  • Watch videos from a variety of sources bringing classroom topics to life
  • Read modern, diverse business cases
  • Explore hundreds of books and reference titles