Least Restrictive Environment

Marchelle Smith

SPE-350 Special Education Litigation and Law

September 23, 2013

Angel Barkel

Least Restrictive Environment Interview

Lynne Smoak is the coordinator for our district in the special education department. She has been with our district for over 25 years in special education. She became the coordinator in 1994 and she feels that all our students should feel that they are important and that their education is important. Lynn graduated from Salisbury University with a Masters in Special Education. She has been involved in the reading literacy program within our district for more than 10 years. Lynne was a special education teacher for more 10 years and she loved teaching her students.

The following questions were asked of Lynne and these are her responses.

1. What is the special education coordinator’s definition of least restrictive environment (LRE)?

Lynne: I define least restrictive environment as an environment that allows those with a disability to be able to receive an education with students other than those who have a disability. These students should be able to receive the same curriculum that the other students in education. For me those with a disability should be treated equal and should be able to be in a general classroom as long as their disability allows them to and they are able to learn from that setting.

2. How is service delivery determined in order to provide LRE in the school district? Explain each type of service delivery.

Lynne: The service delivery we provide is direct service within a general education setting, which is where we give direct service within the general education classroom, direct support for individual students by a regular classroom teacher, special education teacher or an assistant within the classroom. We also have individual or small group settings that give instructions to meet the educational needs and the behavioral needs of the student. We also provide direct service outside...