The IEP Team recommends services in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) appropriate to your child's needs. This means that the IEP Team, of which you are a member, must consider how special education services can be provided to your child that will allow him or her to be educated with children who do not have disabilities, to the maximum extent appropriate.
The IEP Team will first consider whether your child's needs may be met in a general education class with supports, aids and services provided to your child.
If it is determined that your child cannot participate in general education classes, even with appropriate Supplementary Aids and Services, Special Education Teacher Support Services, Related Services or in a Collaborative Team Teaching/Integrated Co-Teaching class, other settings such as Special Classes or special schools will be considered.
Keep in mind that your child should be provided the opportunity to participate in extracurricular and nonacademic activities (e.g., physical education, recess, after-school activities) with non-disabled children, unless his or her disability makes such participation inappropriate.
Also, your child should be educated in the school that he or she would attend if not disabled, unless the IEP requires that other arrangements are made.
Our goal is to educate children with disabilities in their zoned schools alongside their more typically developing peers whenever possible.
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Individualized Educational Programs often combine services to achieve the right balance. Educators agree that students usually do better when they get the supports they need in the context of classroom work (instead of being "pulled out"). More and more, you will find that specialists come into the classroom and collaborate with teachers, aides, and other adults to support students.
Some children will qualify for additional services such as paraprofessional services, assistive technology devices and services, adapted physical education, etc