What does Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) imply for students with disabilities?

The concept of Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is fundamentally aimed at ensuring that students with disabilities are educated alongside their non-disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate. This means that students should be placed in educational programs where they can receive the necessary support and accommodations that allow them to participate and succeed in a general education setting, rather than being isolated or segregated from their peers.

By placing them in the least restrictive environment, it recognizes the importance of inclusion and the benefits that come from social interactions and collaborative learning with non-disabled students. The principle encourages schools to provide necessary supports, adaptations, and services that enable these students to thrive within regular classrooms as much as possible. This philosophy aligns with the idea that all children, regardless of their abilities or disabilities, deserve equal access to educational opportunities in an inclusive setting.