Fifth Circuit Finds Social Skills Progress is an Important Factor in Determining Whether a General Education Setting is Appropriate

The Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit recently affirmed a ruling that placing a student with autism in a general education classroom with supports and modifications was appropriate and the least restrictive environment. The Court emphasized social skills gained in general education classrooms are an important factor for determining whether a general education classroom is appropriate. The Court stated general education placement considerations are not decided by asking “whether or not the student will gain any educational benefits from regular education because educational benefits are not mainstreaming’s only virtue.” Here, the student not only made “academic progress” in the general education setting, but the student’s “behavior and social skills had similarly improved due to [his] ability to model the conduct of his general-education classmates.” 

Click here to access the decision.