Agenda Item
Meeting Date:
1/26/2017 - 6:30 PM  
Category:
Report of the Committee on Parent and Community Engagement  
Type:
Action  
Subject:
2. Report and Possible Action on Services Provided to Students with Disabilities in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)  
Strategic Plan Compatibility Statement:
Goal 1
Academic Achievement
 
Policy:
 
Attachments:
1. LRE-January 2017  
File Attachment:
LRE-January 2017.pdf
 
Background:
LRE is one of the most significant components in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA)-2004. It requires that, to the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities be educated with children who are not disabled. Removal of students with disabilities from the regular educational environment occurs only when the severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes, with the use of supplementary aids and services, cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

The Milwaukee Public Schools is committed to ensuring that students with disabilities are educated in environments with their non-disabled peers. The preference of the law is that students be educated using the general curriculum in the regular education classroom, with the use of supplementary aids and services. Best practices and research strongly support education in the least restrictive environment (LRE), with access to the general curriculum, because it leads to higher achievement outcomes for students with disabilities.

As part of the LRE focus on increasing academic and behavioral outcomes for students with disabilities, the Department of Specialized Services has developed a plan of support to ensure that every child is receiving special education services in the least restrictive environment (LRE). The LRE Plan became part of the School Improvement Plan (SIP), which all schools are required to complete, in the 2011-12 school year and. Within the plan, schools must identify teams to work on ways to include students with special education with their non-disabled peers, to set target goals, and to include steps to reach those goals.
 
Fiscal Impact Statement:
No Fiscal Impact  
Implementation and Assessment Plan:
 
Recommendation
Your Committee reports having received the foregoing report from the Administration. Although this item has been noticed for possible action, no action is required.  
Approvals:
Recommended By:
Signed By:
Jacqueline M. Mann, Ph.D. - Board Clerk/Chief Officer