How are LRE requirements met for preschool students?
/p> The requirements of 34 CFR §300.552 and 34 CFR §300.550-300.556, apply to all preschool children with disabilities ages 3-4 who are entitled to receive FAPE. The placement decision must be – (a) made by a group of persons, including the parents, and other persons knowledgeable about the child, the meaning of evaluation data, and the placement options; (b) determined at least annually; (c) based on the child’s IEP or IFSP; and (d) as close as possible to the child’s home. Unless the IEP of a child with a disability requires some other arrangement, the child is educated in the school that he or she would attend if nondisabled. Public agencies that do not operate programs for nondisabled preschool children are not required to initiate such programs solely to satisfy the requirements regarding placement in the LRE embodied in 300.550-300.556. For these public agencies, some alternative methods for meeting the requirements include: (a) providing opportunities for the participation (even
