Parent Resources

This section gives helpful tips to parents with students in special education. Specifically, this explains how inclusion plays a role in their child's education and how it should be properly implemented.

Once the IEP team has decided what services a child needs, a decision must be made about where services will be provided. Where the child’s IEP is carried out is called placement. Parents have the right to be part of the group that decides the child’s placement.

In deciding the child’s placement, the group must make sure that the child has the maximum opportunity appropriate to learn with children who do not have disabilities—in academic, nonacademic, and extracurricular activities. This part of IDEA is called Least Restrictive Environment or LRE.

(A legacy resource from NICHCY)

Who Makes the Placement Decision?

Often, the IEP team makes the placement decision. In some places, the placement decision is made by another group of people. In either case, under IDEA, the group that makes the placement decision must include the parent(s) and others who:

• are knowledgeable about the child;
• understand the meaning of his or her evaluation data; and
• know the placement options.  

On What is the Placement Decision Based?

When discussing placement, the group should consider the child’s unique needs and determine the least restrictive placement for the child, based upon those needs. A placement that is least restrictive for one child may not be least restrictive for another. What is least restrictive for each child is based on that child’s unique needs. This means that the school system cannot use a “one size fits all” approach to educating children who have a disability. Decisions must be based on individual needs as stated in the IEP, and—

• may not be based on the child’s disabling condition or label (such as placement in a special class for students with intellectual disabilities just because a child has cognitive impairments);
• may not be based on disability program categories (placement in an particular program for students with learning disabilities (LD) just because a child needs LD services); and
• may not be based on the location of staff, on the funds that are available, or on the convenience of the school district. (Rebhorn & Smith, 2008)

QUICK LINKS FOR PARENTS

http://www.parentcenterhub.org/repository/placement-overview/ (information used above)

http://familiestogetherinc.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/LREPrimer.pdf

http://www.michiganallianceforfamilies.org/education/lre-placement/

http://ctserc.org/s/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1073:least-restrictive-environment-lre-parents&directory=1

Video Resources

The video below includes two special education experts ( Special Education advocate and Special Education attorney) discussing the Least Restrictive Environment[LRE]and its implementation. 

The video below goes into great detail about LRE. The video includes a voice over along with many visual aids. The video discusses the legal requirements of IDEA and its correlation to LRE in a very in depth way. The video also explains how evaluation, progress monitoring and a helpful Q & A segment. Many insightful explanations explaining the legal implications of LRE are included. 

This video below takes a look into the Detroit Public School [DPS] system. The video shows teachers from the DPS, and how LRE is being implemented in their classrooms. The DPS seeks to improve in its special education area; this video shows an attempt at this improvement. 

LRE DIAGRAMS

Included are some helpful visuals in determining:  how to implement LRE, its specific meaning, and its legal requirements.

This picture shows the progression of most restrictive to least restrictive environments ( DPI website).

Move  this way only as far asnecessary	General Education with Special Education Support Services	Returnthis wayas rapidlyasfeasible
	In-Class Resource Center Support and other Related Services
	Pull-Out Resource Center Support and other Related Services
	Special Classes with Mainstreaming Opportunities in Academic and Non-Academic Classes as Specified in the IEPThe law mandates non-academic mainstreaming (lunch, gym, etc.) for all students unless it is clearly inappropriate for an individual student for specific reasons.
	Day Schools and Special Class Clusters
	Residential Programs Hospital Schools Home Instruction

This Picture (above) shows simple guidelines a teacher can follow to make his or her classroom the least restrictive. (taken from http://www.spannj.org/BasicRights/least_restrictive_environment.htm)

Above is a picture showing the placement continuum. This is a good tool to reference in order to see where a certain students falls on the continuum.( taken from: http://imgarcade.com/1/least-restrictive-environment-triangle/)

Move
 this
way
only
as
far asnecessary

General Education with Special Education Support Services

Returnthis
wayas rapidlyasfeasible

In-Class Resource Center Support and other Related Services

Pull-Out Resource Center Support and other Related Services

Special Classes with Mainstreaming Opportunities in Academic and Non-Academic Classes as Specified in the IEPThe law mandates non-academic mainstreaming (lunch, gym, etc.) for all students unless it is clearly inappropriate for an individual student for specific reasons.

Day Schools and Special Class Clusters

Residential Programs
Hospital Schools
Home Instruction

Least Restrictive Environment [LRE] Concepts and Legal Requirements

What is meant by Least Restrictive Environment[LRE]?

1. In the U.S. Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), least restrictive environment (LRE) indicates that a student who has a disability should be allowed the opportunity to receive educated with non-disabled peers, to the highest extent possible.
   
   
   What are legal requirements of LRE according to the Individuals with Disabilities Educational Act[IDEA]? 
   In order to be eligible to receive funds under Part B of IDEA (IDEA), States must, among other conditions, assure that a free appropriate public education (FAPE) is made available to all children with specified disabilities in mandated age ranges.

   The term "FAPE" is defined as including, among other elements, special education and related services, provided at no cost to parents, in conformity with an individualized education program (IEP).

   The IEP, which contains the statement of the special education and related services to meet each disabled students' unique needs, forms the basis for the entitlement of each student with a disability to an individualized and appropriate education.

   IDEA further provides that States must have in place procedures assuring that, "to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled, and that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily."
   (wrightslaw website)
   Is LRE Considered a Value?
   Inclusion Is A Value

   
   

   "We view inclusion as a value, a set of humanistic beliefs that have been encoded in federal law.  These laws clearly reflect that individuals with disabilities are valued members of society.   Inclusion is a process through which we discover our similarities, rather than our differences, and we focus on our strengths, not our weaknesses.   Inclusion does not reflect a place where special education is provided, but in a larger sense, a way of life and a way of thinking about the future of our children.  By providing our children with opportunities to have meaningful relationships and experiences within their family, school, and community lives, we are enabling them to reach their fullest potential as adults."

   
   

   
   

    (quote from: http://www.spannj.org/BasicRights/least_restrictive_environment.htm)