Special education is intended to provide services to students who have disabilities, and
who, because of those disabilities, need help to make progress in the general
education program of the school.
The task of determining eligibility is a complex one. Making a determination that a
student has a disability and that the disability is causal to an inability to make progress
in general education is one of the most significant judgments professionals and families
will make in the educational life of a student. There is no simple way to identify
students in need of special education. These guidelines are not meant to prevent
students from receiving necessary services. However, special education resources
need to be reserved for students with disabilities and because of those disabilities,
need the specialized services that special education can provide in order to make
educational progress. This document also emphasizes how the capacity of general
education can be maximized to ensure that referrals to special education are made
appropriately.
