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Wednesday, February 2, 2005

Children's Hospital Medical Center Resources

Children's Hospital Medical Center Resource for Parents with Disabiities...
http://www.cincinnatichildrens.org/svc/alpha/c/special-needs/resources/

What is Least Restrictive Environment?

WHAT IF YOU DON'T LIKE SCHOOL DELIVERY OF LRE (Least Restictive Environment)?


Least Restrictive Environment(Reg)121a.550(b) Each public agency shall insure:(1) That to the maximum extent appropriate handicapped children, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities are educated with children who are not handicapped, and (2) That special classes, separate schooling or other removal of handicapped children from the regular educational environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the handicap is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.Kinds of Exceptional Student Education Programs(Statute)602(16)

The term ''special education'' means specifically designed instruction at no cost to parents or guardians, to meet the unique needs of a handicapped child, including classroom instruction, instruction in physical education, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals and institutions.(Reg.)121a.551(a) Each public agency shall insure that a continuum of alternative placements is available to meet the needs of handicapped children for special education and related services.(b) The continuum required under paragraph (a) of this section must:(1) Include the alternative placements listed in the definition of special education under121a.13 of Subpart A (instruction in regular classes, special classes, special schools, homeinstruction, and instruction in hospitals and institutions) and(2) Make provision for supplementary services (such as resource room or itinerant instruction) to be provided in conjunction with regular class placement

Copied from http://www.coping.org/specialed/laws.htm

Here's a kinder, gentler version:

Q. What is "Least Restrictive Environment"?

A. The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is defined as the educational setting where a child with disabilities can receive a free appropriate public education (FAPE) designed to meet his or her education needs while being educated with peers without disabilities in the regular educational environment to the maximum extent appropriate. The definition of LRE in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is: "To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities, including children in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are [1] educated with children who are not disabled, and [2] 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 of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily." It is important to remember that special education is not a "place," but rather a set of services. Similarly, the LRE provision of the IDEA emphasizes services rather than the placement. Learning in less restrictive environments benefits students with and without disabilities in so much as all children are more likely to improve their academic performance, and increase their communication and socialization skills.Back to top

Q. What is the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and how does it relate to LRE?A. The IDEA is the federal law governing the education of children with disabilities. The IDEA and its regulations define LRE and require that all states demonstrate they have policies and procedures in place to guarantee they meet the federal LRE requirements.Back to topQ. What is Section 504 and how does it relate to LRE?A. Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 prohibits discrimination against students with physical and mental disabilities who attend public school. The section protects students whose physical or mental disabilities substantially limit one or more “major life activities,” such as caring for themselves, seeing, breathing, walking and learning. This statute protects both children with physical and mental disabilities who are not, and should not be, receiving special education services, and children receiving special education services. Section 504 applies only to federal government programs and programs that receive federal funds. Since the New York City Board of Education receives federal funds it is covered by Section 504. Section 504 can require administration of medication, monitoring students’ physical well-being, provision of accessible facilities, use of equipment like tape recorders and calculators, counseling, and test modifications or accommodations. Section 504 is one way of assuring that children with special needs, who do not require special education services, continue to be educated in the LRE.Back to top

Q. Will a child with a disability automatically be sent to a separate class or school?A. The IDEA requires that in seeking the LRE for each individual child the first consideration must always be the general education classroom with the provision of supplementary aids and services in the school the child would attend if the child did not have a disability. Special classes or a segregated setting may be considered only when education in the regular classes with the use of aids and services cannot possibly be achieved. Federal and state regulations also require that a child with a disability be educated in a school as close as possible to the student's home.Copied from:http://www.lrecoalition.org/01_whatIsLRE/index.htm