Final answer:
The best synonym for mainstreaming in an educational context is inclusion, which denotes the complete integration of students with special needs into standard classroom settings while ensuring universal access to education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The best alternative and synonymous term for mainstreaming students in the schools would be inclusion. Mainstreaming refers to a balance between time spent in a special-needs classroom and participating in a standard classroom setting, aiming to provide a more specialized education structure along with exposure to general educational environments.
Inclusion, on the other hand, implies full integration of students with special needs into regular classroom settings, with the appropriate accommodations made to support their educational experience. Both terms relate to the concept of ensuring universal access to education, but inclusion specifically represents the idea of complete immersion in a standard educational environment, which aligns closely with the concept of mainstreaming.