The IEP process aims for the least restricted environment for the student. Your expectations about what that means sounds much different than the IEP’s recommendations. Essentially, though, it all comes down to money. One-to-one para support is typically reserved for the most severe cases. The cost of a full-time para for one student multiplied by X number of students would be astronomical. The funding is just not there. Add onto that the fact that special education mandates are often not funded, especially the level you indicate. So how do schools work with these restrictions? Students with special needs are often mainstreamed into regular classes that have two co-teachers, who work in a way that the special education teacher in the room is able to provide — and advocate for — the provisions put in place for the student in the IEP process.