A new U.S. Government Accountability Office report found that the share of students with disabilities spending substantial time in mainstream classes has increased, rising about 25% from the 2012–13 to 2023–24 school years. The report measures progress toward educating students with disabilities in the “least restrictive environment” under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. GAO found that increases in general education placement vary by state and are more common in some district conditions, including differences tied to special education infrastructure, per-pupil revenue, and poverty levels. Districts cited staffing and program funding constraints—such as hiring paraeducators and building inclusive supports—as barriers to expanding mainstream time. While this is a K-12 finding, it has downstream relevance for higher education because it shapes the pipeline of students entering postsecondary institutions with different classroom experiences and support needs.