Least Restrictive Environment

In the United States the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) is a special education law that mandates regulation for students with disabilities in order to protect their rights as students and the rights of their parents.

Under this act it is required that all students receive a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE), and includes that these students should be educated in the least restrictive environment (LRE) . The least restrictive environment clause states that students with disabilities should be educated with students without disabilities to the maximum appropriate extent. If a student should require supplementary aids and services necessary (such as an interpreter, resource room or itinerant teacher) to achieve educational goals while being placed in a classroom with students without disabilities, they should be provided as needed.

When providing services to a student with an IEP, the goal of IDEA is to ensure that education is provided in the least restrictive environment as possible. However, when needs are best met in an alternative setting, then the student might be placed in one.

Please remember, although the goal is to provide services in the least restrictive environment, service delivery should be considered along a continuum which includes but are not limited to: Consultative/ collaborative services, Classroom‐based services, and Pull‐out services.