The School Association for Special Education in DuPage County is a cooperative of 18 school districts providing services to 6,442 students with disabilities in DuPage County, Illinois. A complete continuum of services is provided for all students with disabilities ages 3-21. Member districts provide special education and related services to the majority of students with disabilities. SASED, as an extension of each member district, provides programs and services for students with moderate and severe disabilities, and for students whose behavior requires an alternative setting. SASED also operates specialized programs on a regional basis for students with severe hearing, vision and orthopedic disabilities. Private placement opportunities are also utilized, when appropriate. SASED's philosophical base is that, to the greatest extent possible, students are educated in general attendance centers as close to the students' homes as possible. SASED is governed by a Board of Control, which includes one representative from each member district. The Board meets monthly and functions similarly to a local school district board.