Where is special education intstruction provided?
Special education instruction can be provided in a number of settings, such as: in the classroom, in the home, in hospitals and institutions, and in other settings (Section 300.26). Public agencies must ensure that a continuum of alternative placements is available to meet the needs of children with disabilities [Section 300.551(a)]. This continuum must include the placements just mentioned (instruction in regular classes, special classes, special schools, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals and institutions) and make provision for supplementary services (such as resource room or itinerant instruction) to be provided in conjunction with regular class placement. Unless a child’s IEP requires some other arrangement, the child must be educated in the school he or she would attend if he or she did not have a disability [Section 300.552(c)]. Special education instruction must be provided to students with disabilities in what is known as the least restrictive environment, or LRE.
