LRE requires that, to the maximum extent appropriate, students with disabilities aged 3 through 21, in public or private institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled [34 C.F.R. §300.550 (b)(1)]. The ISBE will monitor programs and institutions that serve students with disabilities to ensure that the first placement option considered is a regular education environment, with the use of supplemental aids and services as needed. Special classes, separate schooling, or other placements by which students with disabilities are removed from the regular education environment should occur only if the student's Individual Educational Program ("IEP") team determines that the  nature or severity of the disability is such that education in a regular classroom setting, even with the use of supplemental aids and services, cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

(resource Illinois State Board of Education website:www.isbe.net)

 For more information on Least Restrictive Environment please go to www.ISBE.net and click on Special Education Services -under Resources -Topics A-Z. There is an LRE Code Determination Manual and ISBE's LRE  policy for you to review.