This discussion addresses the legal issues in special education currently of critical concern to school administrators. It reviews outcomes of recent court cases, Department of Education policies, and legislative requirements concerning the following issues: (1) inclusion (a two-pronged test of compliance with mainstreaming requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is explained); (2) medically fragile students (court decisions on determining whether required services are educational or medical in nature are reviewed); (3) violence, discipline, and expulsion (the Relationship Test of whether the misbehavior is related to the student's disability is explained); (4) parent unilateral placement in a private school (differing standards for determining whether a public school program is appropriate are noted); (5) services to students in parochial schools (explains the Supreme Court decision in the Zobrest vs Catalina Foothills School District case). (DB)