The report examines the status of special education in St. Louis (Missouri) Public Schools. Census data are reported by primary handicap, age, and principle type of service received. Difficulties in the process of diagnosis and assignment of handicap category are revealed, including confusion over eligibility for learning disabled (LD) and…

The paper proposes changes from the present categorically based special education service delivery system to a curriculum-based service delivery system. Set forth are problems currently associated with designating students as learning disabled (LD), distinguishing them from those who are simply underachievers or have other handicapping conditions,…