Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is a requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) for all children, including preschool children with disabilities. Because providing preschool classes is not a requirement for local education agencies, finding natural environments for preschool-aged children with disabilities to receive special education services can be a challenge for school districts.
LRE Solutions
Some possible solutions to this challenge include partnerships with Title I Prekindergarten programs, Head Start, and community-based childcare facilities. Title I programs are open to students who meet the income guidelines for eligibility (students with disabilities who do not qualify can also be included if they do not take away a slot from an eligible student). Head Start programs have a mandate that 10% of the students they serve must be students with disabilities. Community-based childcare centers can enter into agreements with local school districts in which training, personnel, and equipment can be exchanged for slots and/or tuition for children with disabilities.
Best Practices Statewide Project
Region 20 has a special mandate from the state as a decentralized function to address LRE issues. This year, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) has asked Region 20 to continue a special statewide project to promote best practices in the area of Preschool LRE issues. Last year, three (3) districts in Region 20 and fifty (50) districts/charter schools throughout the state were chosen to be a part of this effort. Because of this project, 78% of participating districts saw an increase in the number of preschool students who had access to the general curriculum in a natural environment with typically developing peers. Additionally, 64% of participating districts demonstrated a decrease in the number of students who were served in primarily self-contained special education settings. There was a 30% increase noted in the development of partnerships with other service providers.
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