National Association of Private Special Education Centers

Private Specialized Education Programs

There are 6.6 million students with disabilities being served through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the United States. Of these students, 3.4% are being served in private specialized day and/or residential programs. IDEA requires that a continuum of alternative placements and services exist in order to address the individual needs of students with disabilities.  NAPSEC member programs provide educational therapeutic services to both publically and privately placed individuals that are not able to be successfully educated in the regular education environment. These services also include infants and toddlers that are served by our early intervention service members and our postsecondary college experience and adult living programs that serve individuals who have graduated or who are over 21 and are no longer eligible for services under IDEA.