Readers of Academic Therapy are being presented, in this issue, with several excellent suggestions on handling mainstreamed students in special education and particularly those in learning disabilities classes. We all recognize the value of follow-up, but it seems significantly more urgent now that we are seeing shrinking enrollments, cutbacks in funding, and improved methods of identification of special education students.Follow-up communication has three specific objectives: -It aids both regular and special education professionals in evaluating the progress of the mainstreamed student in his or her placement. -I f problems are found to exist with that student, followup assists in developing strategies to intervene and minimize identified problem areas. -Follow-up communication assists special educators in evaluating their mainstreaming readiness programs as well as school-wide mainstreaming policies.Mainstreaming follow-up communication should be periodic. The frequency of communication will vary depen-Spencer J. Salend, EdD, is associate professor,