Least Restrictive Environment
What does the least restrictive environment (LRE) mean?
LRE means that your child has the right to learn in the same environment that children without disabilities learn in. According to IDEA, your child must be included "to the maximum extent appropriate".
How can the family participate in making this possible?
You can talk with your child's special education teacher and make sure your child is included in every class that would be a benefit to them in some way-whether that be by direct participation or working on adapted or IEP goals within a mainstream environment. Although your child may have different needs, having your child included with their non-disabled peers has been shown to greatly benefit everyone involved.
Lipsky, D.K. & Gartner, A. (1995). National study on inclusion: Overview and summary report. In National Center on Educational Restructuring and Inclusion Bulletin, 2(2), 1-8.
LRE means that your child has the right to learn in the same environment that children without disabilities learn in. According to IDEA, your child must be included "to the maximum extent appropriate".
How can the family participate in making this possible?
You can talk with your child's special education teacher and make sure your child is included in every class that would be a benefit to them in some way-whether that be by direct participation or working on adapted or IEP goals within a mainstream environment. Although your child may have different needs, having your child included with their non-disabled peers has been shown to greatly benefit everyone involved.
Lipsky, D.K. & Gartner, A. (1995). National study on inclusion: Overview and summary report. In National Center on Educational Restructuring and Inclusion Bulletin, 2(2), 1-8.
