LRE Least Restrictive Environment

Definition: School districts are required to educate students with disabilities in regular classrooms with their nondisabled peers, in the school they would attend if not disabled, as much as is possible. This is the educational setting that maximizes a child's ability to receive maximum educational benefits while participating in a regular educational environment as much as possible. The inclusional classroom is perhaps the most LRE for many exceptional students. However, although the term inclusion is used as the most LRE, inclusion is a relatively newer term as is not listed in IDEA. LRE is a requirement under the IDEA.