By federal law, schools must provide

• an “Appropriate” education
• in the Least Restrictive Environment
• Least Restrictive Environments (Continuum of Services)
  • General Education Classroom full day
  • Pull-outs (resource room, consultant teacher, academic support, etc.)
  • Student is educated in spec. ed. classroom for partial day
  • Student educated in special ed. classroom for entire day.
  • Separate schools for specific types of disabilities
  • Residential facility
  • Homebound or Hospital placement

(5) Least restrictive environment.–

(A) In general.–To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities… 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 of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

                                                                Statute: TITLE I / B / 612 / a / 5

(c) 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 not disabled;

(d) In selecting the LRE, consideration is given to any potential harmful effect on the child or on the quality of services that he or she needs;