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Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), Mainstreaming, Inclusion

Many people, including parents and teachers, have questions about what IDEA requires for the "least restrictive environment (LRE)", mainstreaming, and inclusion. Some people say that the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) requires schools to practice "inclusion". But the term "inclusion" is relatively new and is not mentioned in the IDEA statute or regulations.

The IDEA's LRE or mainstreaming policy requires public schools to educate students with disabilities in regular classrooms with their nondisabled peers, in their neighborhood schools (the schools they would attend if not disabled), to the maximum extent appropriate.

classroom with a teacher working with a diverse group of students Frequently Asked Questions About about LRE, Mainstreaming and Inclusion

Tag » What Is Lre In Education