IEP Placement Decisions – The Least Restrictive Environment LRE

When determining your child’s IEP placement, carefully consider your child’s ability to learn in the regular classroom at his local school. Your child’s placement must be in the least restrictive environment ( LRE ) that can provide meaningful academic progress.

Can your child learn in the regular classroom if a personal aide is provided? Can your child learn with an assistant or assistive technology?

IDEA states that IEP Placement cannot be based upon “administrative convenience” or available resources. However, if the child is a danger to himself or others, then the child can have a more restrictive IEP Placement.

LRE Placement is based on individual needs

The IEP Placement must be based solely upon your child’s individual needs. The school can’t limit placement choices to a classroom or program the school “typically” uses. A parent can’t insist on a specific placement either. If the school offers an appropriate IEP Placement, then they have met the legal requirements under IDEA.

LRE is based upon a full continuum of IEP Placement options

LRE placements include all types of program choices. IEP Placement options include services such as resource pull-out programs, before or after school tutoring, home instruction, special schools, general classroom with or without an aid, etc. Schools must provide a full “continuum of alternative placements”.

In other words, the school can offer any placement, if it is what the child needs. Your child’s school can’t say, “This is what we always do, so it’s the only option.”

The key is to always provide what your child needs. IDEA is all about what your child needs.

Just to re-emphasize what LRE is based on: Schools can’t limit LRE Placement to what the school has available or what the school administrators are willing to provide. Neither can parents dictate the LRE all by themselves. The LRE is solely based on your child’s individual needs.

Your child has a right to an appropriate education. Your child deserves an opportunity to meet academic standards that include progress in the general curriculum. If able to learn, your child is must receive the same educational opportunities typical students receive.

LRE Least Restrictive Environment Placement

Your child’s placement should be written into the IEP as a statement of the location for instruction, duration of teaching, and the specific setting.

Example:

Regular Classroom, 5 hours/day, 5 days/week, with 1-on-1 collaborative teacher 1 hour/day, 5 days/week during Mathematics and Grammar.

Occupational Therapy, 30 minutes/day, 3 days/week, Group of 3 children.

Schools can only determine placement at the end of the IEP process. LRE placement is based upon the defined needs of YOUR child. No one can, or should, make a placement decision prior to completing the rest of the IEP. After identifying all of your child’s needs, then the IEP team (including YOU) works together to decide how and where your child will be taught.

You can read the IDEA LRE statutes at: Least Restrictive Environment LRE

—