Understanding LRE and Its Role in Supporting All Learners
Key Takeaways:
- Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) emphasizes educating students with disabilities alongside their non-disabled peers as much as possible, focusing on how to support them in inclusive settings.
- Before considering a more restrictive placement, schools must first try supplementary aids, supports, and services to ensure students can succeed in general education environments.
- Challenging behaviors should be seen as opportunities for support and growth within inclusive settings, not reasons for exclusion.
Highlights from the Handout:
Julie’s Favorite:
- Utilizing Material Supports: The story of Mark’s success with a key to the art room illustrates how simple material support can empower a student to lead and participate meaningfully in their environment.
Kristie’s Favorite:
- Prioritizing Diverse and Inclusive-Minded Leadership: Hiring leaders, educators, and paraprofessionals who are both inclusive-minded and bring a range of experiences to support an inclusive culture effectively is crucial.
Practical Tips:
(7:54) “This handout gives you everything you should and have to try before even considering removing a student into a resource room or into a separate self-contained classroom.”
(12:17) “When someone says distraction is a reason to exclude a child, it's not a justifiable reason because benefiting from a small group is common for most kids.”
FREE CHECKLIST:
Want our most powerful checklist for ensuring inclusive services?
- Effective strategies to try before even considering a pull-out setting
- Wildly expand your options for student support
- A must-have checklist for every IEP meeting!
- Get everyone thinking outside the box!
- Creative solutions to providing services and supports
- Finally, a common starting place for parents and educators