The Least Restrictive Environment at School

Unfortunately not all schools tell parents all of their rights at their child’s IEP meetings (Individualized Educational Plan). This creates a great deal of confusion and anxiety for parents. Typically any time I write an article regarding IEPs, I receive emails from parents across the country asking if they are being treated fairly in their IEP meeting.

A common term that is used at IEP meetings is Least Restrictive Environment. At times this term is used to deny a child services. Parents may be asking about Resource Assistance or a Special Day Class and the school may say the Resource Room is not an option because it is not the least restrictive environment. They may insist that the child be placed in a general educational classroom. In other words, the typical classroom people think about when they think of school. However, placing a child in a general education classroom or school is inclusion not the least restrictive environment.

Inclusion refers to providing children who need special educational services access to the general educational atmosphere and students. However, this is not the least restrictive environment. The least restrictive environment is where your child benefits the most from their education. This may not always be a general education classroom. Remember, least restrictive refers to the environment where your child has the least difficulty learning and benefiting from their education. Therefore, a Special Educational Classroom may be the least restrictive environment for your child depending on their educational needs.

This can be a confusing term to understand especially since most people have been lead to believe that inclusion is the same thing as the least restrictive environment. I have included a link to a video which further explains this term. I strongly recommend you watch it so you have a clear understanding of what least restrictive environment refers to and what inclusion refers to https://youtu.be/I7HFRF8y288.

Dr. Michael Rubino is a psychotherapist with over 20 years experience treating children and teenagers in Special Education. He often assists parents with IEPs and school accommodations. For more information about Dr. Rubino’s work or private practice visit his websites www.RubinoCounseling.com or www.LucasCenter.org.