7616 - Least Restrictive Environment

Policy: Least Restrictive Environment	Policy Number: 7616
Date of Original Policy: 07/10/2002	Date Revision Adopted: 02/03/2021
Reviewed by Policy Committee: 01/13/2021	Date of Next Review: 01/13/2024
Replacement of Policy Number:

Least restrictive environment means that placement of students with disabilities in special classes, separate schools or other removal from the regular educational environments occurs only when the nature of severity of the disability is such that even with use of supplementary aids and services, education in regular classes cannot be satisfactorily achieved. The placement of and individual student with a disability in the least restrictive environment shall:

a)    Provide the special education and related services, as well as supplementary aids and services, needed by the student

b)    Provide for education of the student to the maximum extent appropriate to the needs of the student with other students who do not have disabilities

c)    Be as close as possible to the student’s home

The District has an obligation, pursuant to law and regulation, to educate students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. The School District shall ensure that:

a)    Each student with a disability shall be educated with nondisabled students to the maximum extend appropriate

b)    Each student with a disability shall be removed from the regular educational environment only when the nature or severity of the student’s disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily

c)    To the maximum extent appropriate to the student’s needs, each student with a disability shall participate with nondisabled students in nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities.  

The District shall ensure that a continuum of alternative placements, in accordance with law and regulation, will be available to meet the needs of students with disabilities for special education and related services. To enable students with disabilities to be educated with nondisabled students to the maximum extent appropriate, specially designed instruction and supplementary services may be provided in the regular class. Such services may include, but are not limited to, consultant teacher services and other group or individual supplemental or direct special education instruction.

20 United States Code (USC) Section 1400-1485
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)
34 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 300
State Law- Education Law Sections 4401-4410-a
8 New York Code of Rules and Regulations (NYCRR) Sections 100.5, 100.9, 200.1(cc), 200.2(b), 200.4 and 200.6