Inclusion in education means educating students with disabilities in the same classrooms and community schools as other students of the same age. In an inclusive setting, the student with disabilities receives the necessary accommodations, supports and modifications that will enable them to be included in a general classroom setting. The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) does not use the term inclusion. It does require that students with disabilities be educated in their “Least Restrictive Environment.”

If the parent and the IEP team determine that the student cannot be successful in the general education classroom, even with the supplementary aids and services, an alternate placement is considered. There are several public schools and programs in Delaware that serve children with disabilities in alternative settings.

Private schools are not covered under The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and are not required to provide a free appropriate education or special education services to children with disabilities. Private schools are bound by Section 504 of the Americans with Disabilities Act and cannot discriminate against a child with a disability and might be responsible for providing specific modifications or accommodations.