Portugal: In Portugal the Public Education System is the most widely used and best implemented, although there are Private Schools at all levels of education. The school network is organized mainly in “Agrupamentos” (School Groups) that integrate educational establishments that provide all levels of education from preschool to secondary education. Education levels consist of preschool, elementary, intermediate and secondary - 12 years of mandatory education for all students - and higher education.

The Portuguese education system is very centralized, both in terms of organization and funding. However, preschool, elementary, intermediate and secondary public education establishments enjoy some autonomy, particularly at the pedagogical level, in the management of school hours and non-teaching staff.

However, new guidelines for curricular flexibility and greater autonomy have recently been published, and schools are implementing and developing new paths.

Public schools offer conditions for greater and higher equality of opportunities to all students. The City Council is also involved, as are other strategic actors such as Parents' Associations and Social and Local Institutions.

Since the Salamanca Declaration (UNESCO, 1994), Portugal is committed to develop an inclusive education. Therefore, all mainstream schools, at all levels of education, have integrated students with special needs that benefit from special programs according to their level of disability.

Currently, there is a Learning Support Center in every school that accompanies students who need help in their teaching-learning process. Furthermore, the Portuguese System includes Vision, Bilingual Education, and Early Childhood Intervention Reference Schools.

There are also Information and Communication Resource Centers and Resource Centers for Inclusion that provide supports in the selection of technological products, Speech and Occupational therapies, Psychology and in the development of Individual Transition Plans when students move forward to active life.