For each student eligible for special education, an Admission, Review, and Dismissal Committee makes decisions about the programs, supports, and services that will appropriately address the student’s needs. These decisions determine the student’s instructional setting. Some students receive all of their special education services in the general education classroom; others receive most of their special education services in one or more special education classrooms. Some of the more common instructional settings for eligible special education students are listed below.

Mainstream
The student is provided special education and related services in the general education classroom.

Resource
The student is provided special education and related services in a setting other than general education for less than 21% of the student’s instructional day.

Self-Contained, Mild
The student is provided special education and related services in a setting other than general education for at least 21% but less than 50% of the student’s instructional day.

Self-Contained, Moderate
The student is provided special education and related services in a setting other than general education at least 50% but no more than 60% of the student’s instructional day.

Self-Contained, Severe
The student is provided special education and related services in a setting other than general education more than 60% of the student’s instructional day.

Full-Time Early Childhood Special Education
The student is 3 through 5 years of age and receives full-time special education and related services in educational programs designed primarily for children with disabilities.

Vocational Adjustment Class
The student participates in a special education work-based learning program and is employed in a paid or unpaid full- or part-time job with regularly scheduled direct involvement.

Speech Therapy
The student only receives speech therapy. The student does not receive any other special education services.