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All the mentally retarded below school age have a right to preschool training. At age seven, compulsory school starts and includes both "educable" programs for the mildly and some of the moderately retarded children (IQs between about 45 and 70) and "trainable" programs for most of the moderately and some of the severely retarded (IQs between about 25 and 50). Education is to be given for 10 years, followed by compulsory vocational school attendance up to age 21, which can be prolonged to age 23 in certain instances. Relevant sections of the law follow:

Section 24: "Special school attendance is compulsory for mentally retarded who can profit from education, but who are unable to participate in educational training within the general education scheme.

"Such compulsory education starts from the autumn term of the calendar year when he will be seven years old, and lasts as long as he needs training, although not longer than up to and including the spring term of the calendar year when he will be 21. However, if there are exceptional reasons, this compulsory education may be prolonged up to and including the spring term of the calendar year when he will be 23."

Section 3: "School education is provided for the mentally retarded in special schools, where they also shall receive personal and medical care as needed. Special schooling includes preschool, provision for the educable and trainable, vocational training, or several of these.

"Separate classes or schools shall be provided for those mentally retarded who are able to attend special education but have difficulties in adjusting to the activities of the school, or who need special arrangements for their education. Mentally retarded who are unable to participate in the regular work of the special school, due to motor difficulties, sensory handicaps, long periods of illness, or similar circumstances, shall be provided with educational forms specially adjusted to them."

It should also be noted that compulsory education, i.e., the right to receive special school education, includes children residing in institutions and special hospitals.

Preschool education prior to the age of 7 is defined as a right of the child, but not compulsory to him. All mentally retarded children who can make use of preschool training have a right to receive it, regardless if they might later be compelled to attend special school or not. Early training is fundamental for mentally retarded children, and the county councils are counted upon to work actively in tracing these children.

The education given in educable programs (IQs 45-70) as well as in trainable programs (IQs 25-50) is intended for the ages 7-17. A new provision here concerns trainable programs intended for children who are unable to participate in educable programs, but who can make use of practical education and social training.

The right to attend school, as well as compulsory school duty, will in this way finally be implemented for those children who have, until now, been referred to "practical" classes or day centers, or who have not received any education and training at all. As a consequence of this rule, trainable programs will also be established at residential institutions for children. In other words, the law has made mandatory what is considered "trainable" education in the United States.

The autumn term of 1968 will then mean compulsory school for a larger number of retarded children and youths between ages 7 and 20 who previously did not receive any education and training at all. The county councils have a big task here. To begin with, a number of provisional measures must, of course, be approved by the authorities, but the essential fact is that there is a compulsory school duty in force from July 1, 1968. As far as the enforcement is concerned, the law, in Section 2, states: "The county council communities shall provide the mentally retarded residing within the county council community with education, care and other services made mandatory by this law, insofar as someone else does not provide for it." Section 6 states that "the activities of the county council community shall be administered in accordance with this law by a Board for the provisions for the mentally retarded. A committee which handles other administrative tasks of the county council community may be appointed to such a board." "Such Boards of provisions for the mentally retarded shall include appointments of a head of special schools, a head of care facilities, and a head physician."

Section 8 decrees that "the county council community shall draw up a plan for organizing provisions and services for the mentally retarded. This plan shall include the facilities needed for the mentally retarded." The plan shall be authorized by the King or by an authority appointed by the King. In accordance with Section 13, the Board of Education and the Board of Health and Social Welfare are the authorities responsible for the supervision of the actual implementation of the activities in accordance with the law.