Education Settings, Placement in

Placement describes the type of educational environment where a student who is eligible for special education and related services (pursuant to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), 20 U.S.C. §§ 1400 et seq.) receives these services. Placement is closely tied to the “least restrictive environment” provision, which ensures that “[t]o the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled.” 20 U.S.C. § 1412(a)(5)(A).

The U.S. Department of Education has clarified that placement is an environment, not a specific classroom or school. States must maintain a continuum of placements, allowing for a various levels of integration with students who are not disabled. Placements options are categorized as:

• General education setting (a classroom comprising predominantly students without Individualized Educational Program (IEP, also known as a “mainstream” placement; special education student may or may not have additional accommodations in the classroom);
• General education with push-in services (mainstream placement; related services are provided inside the general education classroom during class);
• General education with pull-out services (mainstream placement; related services are provided outside the general education classroom)
• Special class (serves predominantly students with IEPs) within a general education school;
• Special day school (school serves predominantly students with IEPs; students go home at the end of each day);
• Residential school (school serves predominantly students with IEPs; students stay at the school Monday through Friday and possibly on weekends);
• Hospital (primary purpose of the setting is therapeutic, not educational);
• Homebound services (student receives all services inside the home).

The general education setting is considered the most integrated setting, and homebound services are considered the least integrated setting. Regulations by the Department of Education require that the student’s placement be based on the IEP and be close as possible to the student’s home.