Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

               

Least Restrictive Environment guarantee a student’s right to be educated in the setting most like that for peers without disabilities. The LRE is determined and based on individual students needs.  For many students, the LRE may consist of a general education classroom for all or part of the day.  If it is only for part of the day it works along side with a special education classroom or otherwise known as resource room.  With some extreme cases for students with severe disabilities their least restrictive environment might consist of a specialized school or hospital setting.  To plan a student’s placement in LRE is normally a serious decision. It is made by a team of professionals and a student’s parents only after other intensive measure have been tried in the classroom and have had a lack of success.  The placement in LRE is also the fifth step in the referral process.