A Critical Analysis of Resource Programs

Resource programs, sometimes called pull-out programs, have been widely criticized recently. Several professionals have asserted that programs that pull students out of general classrooms for special instruction have for the most part failed to meet the needs of these students. As an alternative to pull-out programs, many professionals recommend that students who have problems be educated full-time in general classrooms. This article provides a critical inspection of resource programs. The resource program model is first described. This is followed by a critical analysis of these programs and some suggestions for future directions.