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LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT

 

 

LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT

Authorities:  34 CFR Part 300; 19 TAC Chapters 75, 89
 
 
 
  FEDERAL AND STATE REQUIREMENTS
 
LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT (LRE) REQUIREMENT 
Each local education agency (LEA) must ensure that:
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  • 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 nondisabled; and
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  • 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 the child is such that education in regular classes with the use of SUPPLEMENTARY AIDS AND SERVICES cannot be achieved satisfactorily.
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In providing or arranging for the provision of nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities, the LEA must ensure that each child with a disability participates with nondisabled children in the extracurricular services and activities to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of the child. Citations:
 
CONTINUUM OF ALTERNATIVE PLACEMENTS
Each LEA must ensure that a continuum of alternative placements is available to meet the needs of children with disabilities for special education and related services. Citations:
The continuum must: Citations:
  • Include instruction in regular classes, special classes, special schools, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals and institutions; and
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  • Make provision for supplementary services such as resource room or itinerant instruction, to be provided in conjunction with regular placement.
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PLACEMENT DECISIONS
In determining the educational placement of a child with a disability, including a preschool child with a disability, each public agency must ensure that:
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  • The placement decision is made:
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    • In conformity with the LRE provisions in this framework; and
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  • The child's placement is:
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    • Determined at least annually;
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    • Based on the child's individualized education program (IEP); and
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    • As close as possible to the child's home; and
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  • Unless the IEP requires some other arrangement, the child is educated at the school that the child would attend if nondisabled.
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The IEP must include an explanation of the extent, if any, to which the child will not participate with nondisabled children: Citations:
  • In the regular class; and
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  • In extracurricular and other nonacademic activities.
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The admission, review, and dismissal (ARD) committee must determine the appropriate instructional setting for the child and specify the instructional setting in the IEP.  Citations:
Instructional arrangements/settings include the following:
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  • Mainstream;
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  • Homebound;
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  • Hospital class;
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  • Speech therapy;
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  • Resource room or services;
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  • Self-contained (mild, moderate, or severe) regular campus;
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  • Off home campus;
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  • Nonpublic day school;
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  • Vocational adjustment class or program;
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  • Residential care and treatment facility (not school district resident); or
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  • State-supported living center.
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The LEA must comply with the PLACEMENT IN A RESIDENTIAL FACILITY framework.
 
PRESCHOOL-AGED CHILDREN
The LEA must comply with the AGES 0-5 framework.
LEAs must provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) in the LRE to preschool-aged children even if the LEA does not provide free preschool programs to all preschool-aged children. Citations:
 
CAREER AND TECHNICAL EDUCATION (CTE) PROGRAMS 
If a child is unable to receive FAPE in a regular CTE program using SUPPLEMENTARY AIDS AND SERVICES, the child may be served in separate programs designed to address the child's occupational/training needs, such as CTE for children with disabilities programs. 
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When determining placement in a CTE classroom, the ARD committee will consider the child's graduation plan, the content of the IEP, including the consideration of transition services, and classroom supports. Citations:
Enrollment numbers in a CTE classroom must not create a harmful effect on learning for a child with or without disabilities. Citations:
 
REGIONAL DAY SCHOOL PROGRAM FOR THE DEAF
LEAs must have access to regional day school programs for the deaf and the child must be eligible for consideration for the Regional Day School Program for the Deaf, subject to the ARD committee recommendations, if the child has a hearing impairment which: Citations:
  • Severely impairs processing linguistic information through hearing, even with recommended amplification; and
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  • Adversely affects educational performance.
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CHILDREN RESIDING IN A RESIDENTIAL FACILITY (RF)
For children residing in an RF within the LEA, the LEA must comply with the RESIDENTIAL FACILITY WITHIN A DISTRICT framework.
  Last Updated : Mon, May 16, 2022