Least Restrictive Environment/Inclusion

In accordance with the Individuals with Disabilities Act of 1997, campuses are responsible for providing students who are receiving special education services the opportunity to participate in school in the least restrictive setting.

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA ’97) includes six principles that provide the framework for how special education services are designed and provided to students with disabilities. These principles are:

* Free appropriate education (FAPE)
* Appropriate evaluation
* Individualized education program
* Least restrictive environment
* Parent and student participation and decision making
* Procedural safeguards

Removal from the general education environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability of a student is such that education in the general classroom with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

Training and technical assistance are available to facilitate the provision of instructional services for students with disabilities to access the general curriculum. Various levels of assistance and training are offered based on the degree of campus involvement and commitment, and identified district and campus needs.

Training is designed to address a wide range of student and district needs which include but are not limited to: accommodations, modifications, co-teaching, content mastery, differentiated instruction, inclusive practices, legal issues, knowledge of student characteristics, instruction and classroom management, etc.

Additionally, as per IDEA-B Rider 20, Education Service Center-Region 19 has developed a project (Focused Success Team Inclusion Institute) that will build the capacity of selected schools each year to be able to effectively respond to student needs in a manner that will facilitate maximum student participation in accessing the general curriculum. Campuses apply and participate through an intensive selection process and commit to a year of staff development and training on inclusive education and instructional strategies.

A lending library with the most current books, videos and resources is available for loan to interested individuals.