8. Placement Determination  and Least Restrictive Environment

Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) and Least Restrictive Environment

• Federal and State regulations require that students have access to a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) in the least restrictive environment (LRE). Restrictiveness is determined by the degree to which a placement removes a student from the typical regular education classroom in the student’s home school, or school of choice.

• When determining a student’s placement, it is imperative that the placement allows for the highest degree of success in the educational setting while at the same time promoting the greatest opportunities for independence and development of personal responsibility for fulfillment of classroom expectations.  Sometimes this means a student will require specially designed instruction for a period of time in the Resource Center, or with a related service provider.  Sometimes this means a student will require some extra adult assistance within the regular education setting along with Resource Center support.  Other times, students require a self-contained or significantly restrictive alternative placement to gain benefit from their educational program.