LRE, Mainstreaming, and Inclusion

Inclusion in Physical EducationInclusion in Physical Education 11

LRE, Mainstreaming, and InclusionLRE, Mainstreaming, and Inclusion

Martin E. Block, Ph.D.Martin E. Block, Ph.D.

Curry School of EducationCurry School of Education

University of VirginiaUniversity of Virginia


DefinitionsDefinitions

Least Restrictive EnvironmentLeast Restrictive Environment

MainstreamingMainstreaming

Regular Education InitiativeRegular Education Initiative

Inclusion Inclusion




LRE defined in federal law:LRE defined in federal law:

To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities...are To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities...are educated with children without disabilitieseducated with children without disabilities, and that special , and that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from regular education environments occur disabilities from regular education environments occur onlyonly when the nature or severity of the disability is such that when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.” (Federal and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.” (Federal Register, August, 1977, p. 42497).Register, August, 1977, p. 42497).


MainstreamingMainstreaming

Process of placing eligible children into regular education Process of placing eligible children into regular education classes with appropriate services determined by the IEP.classes with appropriate services determined by the IEP.

providing most appropriate education in LREproviding most appropriate education in LRE placement based an assessed educational needsplacement based an assessed educational needs provide support to general educatorsprovide support to general educators uniting general and special educationuniting general and special education

(CEC definition of mainstreaming in 1975)(CEC definition of mainstreaming in 1975)


Regular Education InitiativeRegular Education Initiative

Consolidate the dual system of special and regular Consolidate the dual system of special and regular education to serve students with education to serve students with mild disabilities mild disabilities more effectively in regular education (Will, 1986).more effectively in regular education (Will, 1986). increased instructional timeincreased instructional time empowerment of principals to control all programs and empowerment of principals to control all programs and

resources at the building levelresources at the building level provision of support systems for regular ed. teachersprovision of support systems for regular ed. teachers use of new approaches such as curriculum based use of new approaches such as curriculum based

assessment, cooperative learning, and personalized assessment, cooperative learning, and personalized curricula (Will, 1986).curricula (Will, 1986).


Perceived Problems with LRE(Taylor, 1988)

Perceived Problems with LRE(Taylor, 1988)

LRE legitimizes restrictive environments.LRE legitimizes restrictive environments. LRE confuses segregation and integration on the LRE confuses segregation and integration on the

one hand with intensity of services on the other.one hand with intensity of services on the other. LRE is based on a readiness modelLRE is based on a readiness model LRE supports primacy of professional decision LRE supports primacy of professional decision

makingmaking LRE direct attention to physical setting rather than LRE direct attention to physical setting rather than

servicesservices


InclusionInclusion

Placement in Placement in home school.home school. BasingBasing these students in age-appropriate, these students in age-appropriate,

regular education classrooms.regular education classrooms. Using the principle of Using the principle of natural proportions.natural proportions. Providing Providing supplementary aids and services.supplementary aids and services. Viewing special education (and APE) as a Viewing special education (and APE) as a

serviceservice, not a placement., not a placement.


Inclusion (continued)Inclusion (continued)

Supplementary AidsSupplementary Aids Special equipmentSpecial equipment

Special instructionSpecial instruction

Special peer groupingsSpecial peer groupings

Personnel (e.g., peer tutors, Personnel (e.g., peer tutors,

teacher assistants)teacher assistants)

Individualized programsIndividualized programs


Inclusion (continued)Inclusion (continued)

Individualized ProgrammingIndividualized Programming

Long term, top down planningLong term, top down planning

Instruction in prioritized curricular Instruction in prioritized curricular contentcontent

Individually determined instructionIndividually determined instruction



• LRE defined in federal law:LRE defined in federal law:

To the maximum extent appropriate, children with To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities...are disabilities...are educated with children without disabilitieseducated with children without disabilities, , and that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal and that special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from regular education of children with disabilities from regular education environments occur environments occur onlyonly when the nature or severity of the when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes with the use disability is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.” (Federal Register, August, 1977, p. 42497).satisfactorily.” (Federal Register, August, 1977, p. 42497).


Continuum of LRE OptionsContinuum of LRE Options

““...a continuum of alternative placements is available ...a continuum of alternative placements is available to meet the needs of children with disabilities... to meet the needs of children with disabilities... including instruction in regular classes, special including instruction in regular classes, special classes, special schools, home instruction, and classes, special schools, home instruction, and instruction in hospitals.” (Federal Register, 1977).instruction in hospitals.” (Federal Register, 1977).

Placement will be different for each child.Placement will be different for each child. Placement should be in most “normal” environment in Placement should be in most “normal” environment in

which child can succeed.which child can succeed. Placement should not be based on a label.Placement should not be based on a label.


Physical Education Placement OptionsPhysical Education Placement Options

Regular physical education - no supportRegular physical education - no support Regular physical education - consult from APERegular physical education - consult from APE APE conducted within regular physical educationAPE conducted within regular physical education Part-time regular physical education; part-time Part-time regular physical education; part-time

elsewhere (flexible schedule)elsewhere (flexible schedule) Part-time regular physical education; part-time Part-time regular physical education; part-time

elsewhere (fixed schedule)elsewhere (fixed schedule) Full-time separate program in regular schoolFull-time separate program in regular school Full-time separate program in special schoolFull-time separate program in special school


Placement Decisions

• Placement will be different for each Placement will be different for each child.child.

• Placement should be in most “normal” Placement should be in most “normal” environment in which child can succeed.environment in which child can succeed.

• Placement should not be based on a Placement should not be based on a label.label.


Court Cases Related to LRE

Roncker (OH, 1983)Roncker (OH, 1983)

Daniel (TX, 1989)Daniel (TX, 1989)

Greer (GA, 1991)Greer (GA, 1991)

Oberti (NJ, 1993)Oberti (NJ, 1993)

Holland (CA, 1994)Holland (CA, 1994)

Klinton (TX, 1993)Klinton (TX, 1993)


Roncker v. Walters (Ohio) 1983

Case LawCase LawPrincipal of PortabilityPrincipal of Portability

What makes special placement so What makes special placement so special?special?

Can this “specialness” be brought to Can this “specialness” be brought to regular class?regular class?

Benefits to child?Benefits to child? Disruptions?Disruptions?


Daniel R.R. v. State Board of Education (Texas) 1989 “Daniel R.R. Test”

Can education in regular Can education in regular classroom, with supports, classroom, with supports, be achieved satisfactorily?be achieved satisfactorily?

If it cannot, has the school If it cannot, has the school “mainstreamed” the child “mainstreamed” the child to the maximum extent to the maximum extent appropriate?appropriate?


Daniel R.R. (Cont.)

Can Education in Regular Class, Can Education in Regular Class, with Support, be Achieved?with Support, be Achieved? Did school system take steps to Did school system take steps to

include student?include student? Will student receive any Will student receive any

educational benefit?educational benefit? Were there any negative effects Were there any negative effects

on other children?on other children?


Other Important Court Cases

Greer v. Rome (GA) City School Greer v. Rome (GA) City School District (1991)District (1991) Predetermination?Predetermination? Non-academic benefit?Non-academic benefit? Financial burden?Financial burden?

Oberti v. Borough of Clementon Oberti v. Borough of Clementon (NJ) School District (1993)(NJ) School District (1993) Burden of proof?Burden of proof? Supplementary aids?Supplementary aids? Modifying curriculum?Modifying curriculum?


Other Important Court Cases (cont.)

• Sacramento (CA) City Unified Sacramento (CA) City Unified School District v. R. Holland School District v. R. Holland (1994).(1994).

• Educational benefit (same?)Educational benefit (same?)• Non-academic benefitNon-academic benefit• Effects on teacher and other childrenEffects on teacher and other children• Cost of supplementary aidsCost of supplementary aids

• Klinton v. Corpus Christi (TX) Klinton v. Corpus Christi (TX) ISD (1993)ISD (1993)

• Behavior problemsBehavior problems

Documents

LRE, Mainstreaming, and Inclusion