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The Social Maladjustment Exclusion: Leaving A Category Of Students Behind And The Problem With State And Judicial Interpretation Of Congressional Intent, Carolyn Mason

University of the District of Columbia Law Review

Since its inception in 1975, controversy surrounding the Social Maladjustment Exclusion has plagued its understnding. This paper delves deeper into the controversy and explores jurisdictional and nationwide patterns in the judicial interpretation of the social maladjustment exclusion. This analysis further demonstrates how the evolving interpretation of social maladjustment is out of touch with the needs of vulnerable youth in our schools and society, and may be based, in large measure, on a small group of non-representative plaintiffs.