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State governments have the purview to interpret federal special education policies as they see fit. Interpretations of these policies to music education rarely are addressed within state special education policy. The authors selected four states to analyze and compare state special education policies; Illinois, Michigan, Texas, and Virginia. Policies highlighted by the authors include funding, LRE, access to information, and professional development. The authors outline how these policies may apply to music education settings and what music educators can do to more fully support students with disabilities. Additionally, the authors offer policy and practice recommendations.

Six-year-old Thomas Carter never knew that his risk of permanent injury was worse because he lived in Morton, in rural West Texas. But when Thomas chose to play with matches and was accidentally burned over 40 percent of his body, statistically the chances were slim that he could be saved from death or permanent injury.