Speak to the school's special education coordinator. The special education coordinator is the individual in charge of overseeing the entire special education program. This individual will likely possess the most knowledge about the program, and will be best able to answer any questions that you may have. Discuss the program as a whole with this coordinator. Ask questions about what types of disabilities the program currently accommodates, and how support is provided to students enrolled in the program. If the program already services students who have disabilities similar to your child's, he may be more likely to receive the specialized care he needs through that program.
Discuss the inclusion guidelines that the program generally follows. Special education students must be educated in the least restrictive environment (or LRE). Some disabled students are educated in a self-contained class, or a class containing only disabled students, while others are taught in a full-inclusion classroom, or a room containing both disabled and non-disabled students. Some schools only use a full-inclusion model. Inquire as to the policy of the program that you are exploring to determine their stance on the issue of inclusion.
Determine the staff-to-student ratio. Special education students generally require more one-on-one attention than their same-age peers. To ensure that these needy students get this added attention, special education classrooms often have a smaller student-to-teacher ratio. Inquire with the administration to determine the ratio in the special education program in question. The lower the ratio, the more likely it is that your student will get the individualized help that he may need to succeed.
Visit the classroom. Stopping in the classroom is the only way to tell what the classroom environment is truly like. Set up a visit during a school day, and sit in for 30 minutes to observe the educational process. You will likely quickly get a feel for the classroom environment and whether the program is a good match for your student.
Speak to other parents of special education students serviced by the program. Ask neighbors or friends who have experience with the program for advice or information regarding the school. These experienced individuals will likely give you an unbiased account of the strengths and weaknesses of the program as a whole.