What does Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) mean?
Least Restrictive Environment is defined in IDEA regulations. Go to the IDEA practices website and locate Sections 300.550-300.553. Spring 2001- SPecial EDge Newsletter on the LRE Spring 2001 SPecial EDge Insert on the LRE Special LRE Insert Wested LRE Resources Project Federal law provides that each local education agency must ensure that: 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 not disabled, and 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 is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily. [20 U.S.C. Sec. 1412 (a)(5)(A); 34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.550(b)(1) & (2); California Education Code (Cal. Ed. Code) Sec. 56364] State law provides that special e
