| Least Restrictive Environment is one of the main | | | | have items such as "pull-out" listed along with the |
| principles of the Individuals with Disabilities | | | | number of hours per week the child will be pulled |
| Education Act (IDEA). | | | | out. |
| The U.S. Department of Education regulations | | | | Pulling a student out of the regular classroom isn't |
| state that each public agency or school must | | | | necessarily a bad thing. One reason may be to |
| ensure that: | | | | work with a specialist such as a speech and |
| 1) To the maximum extent appropriate, children | | | | language teacher. It would be impossible to give |
| with disabilities, including children in public or private | | | | one-on-one attention with the child in the regular |
| institutions or other care facilities, are educated | | | | classroom setting and would be disruptive to the |
| with children who are non-disabled. | | | | other students. If these situations are minimized |
| 2) Special classes, separate schooling, or other | | | | the child will still spend the bulk of their time in |
| removal of children with disabilities from the | | | | class with their peers. |
| regular educational environment occurs only if the | | | | If needed, the student will have access to |
| nature or severity of the disability is such that | | | | supplementary aids and services if placed in a |
| education in regular classes with the use of | | | | regular classroom with non-disabled peers that are |
| supplementary aids and services cannot be | | | | necessary to achieve educational goals. |
| achieved satisfactorily. | | | | Least Restrictive Environment is good for the |
| Students with learning disabilities who are eligible | | | | student because it ensures they will be learning |
| will have an IEP (Individualized Education Program) | | | | alongside other kids their age and will proceed |
| that determines what is the Least Restrictive | | | | through school under almost completely normal |
| Environment (LRE) appropriate for the student. | | | | situations. It is good for their learning and good for |
| Many parents, especially those just beginning an | | | | their self-esteem. |
| IEP, may not understand what Least Restrictive | | | | This is referred to as "inclusion" and is meant to |
| Environment means or why it is important, and | | | | allow students with learning disabilities or difficulties |
| the definition from the U.S. Department of | | | | to be included with their peers. |
| Education isn't all that easy to understand. | | | | By including ALL students in the same classroom |
| Essentially, it is the goal to keep the learning | | | | environment, they are ALL exposed to the |
| disabled student in the same classroom and | | | | differences between each other, which affords a |
| learning the same curriculum as their peers. This is | | | | more diverse educational climate. |
| important to understand because the IEP may | | | | |