Final answer:
The setting for service delivery that most closely resembles a regular school program while meeting students' exceptional needs is called inclusion. It provides an opportunity for social development like a standard school setting and is supported by the concept of universal access to education, as demonstrated by Mills v. Board of Education.
Step-by-step explanation:
The setting for service delivery that most closely resembles a regular school program while meeting the students' exceptional needs is referred to as inclusion. Inclusion is a method that emphasizes providing an opportunity for social development by fully integrating students with disabilities into standard classroom environments. It embodies the legal and ethical mandate for universal access to education, as affirmed by the precedent set in the case of Mills v. Board of Education (1972), which highlighted the constitutional rights of all children to education. On the other hand, mainstreaming is a practice where students split their time between special education and regular classrooms, providing a balanced approach. Both models aim to afford students with exceptional needs the chance to engage in an educational experience similar to that of their non-disabled peers within public schooling systems that are responsible for equitable per-student spending and access.