Mainstream vs. General Education

Are mainstream classes and general education classes the same.  TIA

Short answer: no.

Mainstream and general education refer to two different categories that make special education services confusing. It is helpful to clarify if we are talking about the content of the curriculum, or the place it is going to be delivered.

Special education should refer to the services delivered to a student based on his/her Individualized Educational Plan (IEP).  This should be focused on the content of the curriculum and how it will be delivered.

A student who receives “special education services” (i.e. has an IEP) might receive those services in a separate “special education classroom” setting or in a general education setting.

If the student with an IEP receives services in a general education classroom, s/he is considered to be “mainstreamed.”  In general, mainstreaming means being included in a general education setting – even if the student still receives special education services, i.e. an aide, extended time on tests, a scribe, or is using a completely different curriculum, i.e. a “replacement” curriculum­.  It probably goes without saying that a highly skilled teacher is needed to make this successful.  

Try to get your case manager to separate out content of services from location of services, and things should be clearer. 

I hope this helps.

A co-taught classroom (1 general ed, 1 special ed teacher) would probably fall under the Mainstream category as well.  I think of general ed as a class taught solely by a non-special ed certified teacher.