A COMPARISON OF THE PRESENT STATUS OF A GROUP OF MENTALLY RETARDED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD BEEN TAUGHT IN SPECIAL CLASSES WITH A COMPARABLE GROUP OF MENTALLY RETARDED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD NOT BEEN ENROLLED IN SPECIAL CLASSES WAS MADE. THE SUBJECTS OF THIS STUDY WERE TWO GROUPS (N EQUALED 40) OF MENTALLY HANDICAPPED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAD ATTENDED PUBLIC SCHOOLS, THE ONE GROUP IN THE SPECIAL EDUCATION PROGRAM NOT LESS THAN 1 YEAR, AND THE OTHER IN THE REGULAR SCHOOL PROGRAM. EACH GROUP WAS STUDIED THROUGH PARENTAL, SOCIOLOGICAL AND EMPLOYMENT DATA IDENTIFICATION. COMPARISONS WERE MADE IN TERMS OF IDENTIFICATION AND DESCRIPTION OF COMMUNITY, OCCUPATIONAL, AND PERSONAL POSTSCHOOL ADJUSTMENTS. IT APPEARED THAT THE SUBJECTS FROM BOTH GROUPS HAVE DONE EXCEPTIONALLY WELL IN BECOMING ACCEPTABLE CITIZENS WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. THIS TENDS TO AGREE WITH MOST OF THE RECENT STUDIES CARRIED OUT IN REGARD TO THE ADJUSTMENT OF MENTALLY RETARDED INDIVIDUALS WHO HAVE BEEN IN SPECIAL CLASSES OR INSTITUTIONS. (GC)