Ga. ‘Inclusion’ Model Casting Out Nondisabled Preschoolers

Parents of preschoolers without disabilities who are attending “inclusion” classes at three Atlanta-area elementary schools are looking for other arrangements after being told that the pilot programs can no longer accommodate their children.

Michael J. Vanairsdale, the superintendent of the 75,000- student Fulton County, Ga., public schools, sent certified letters last month to parents at Summit Hill, Woodland, and Esther Jackson elementary schools saying that because of growth in the number of children with disabilities, all other children would need to leave the program.

The Georgia district is currently serving 38 preschoolers in the program. But schooling must be made available to another 35 children with special needs by Dec. 1, and 150 youngsters are on a waiting...