This volume is intended to provide greater clarity to issues of student placement by examining the concept of the "least restrictive environment" (LRE) in special education. Beginning chapters discuss current placement trends and dilemmas of service delivery. Chapter 3 describes the cultural conditions that led to contemporary special education. It analyzes through scholarly literature and personal interviews the history of U.S. social thought and schooling for students with disabilities before and after the passage of special education federal legislation. Chapter 4 explains and interprets the concept of LRE from a legal perspective to determine whether underlying assumptions about LRE have changed. Chapter 5 explains and interprets the concept of LRE from an educational perspective to determine whether underlying assumptions about LRE have changed and if so, whether the concept remains an ethical educational strategy. The power and inclination of parental politics is examined in chapter 6 to determine whether cultural values have redefined for parents the purpose of schooling. In conclusion, chapter 7 focuses primarily on the interrelations among instructional settings, legal prescriptions, and social values in providing a full educational opportunity to students with disabilities. (Contains more than 300 references.) (CR)