Least Restrictive Environment (LRE)

The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) is not a place but a principle which states that a child with special needs should spend ample time with his peers who do not have special needs. The LRE is specified in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) which mandates that children with special needs should be mainstreamed to the maximum extent possible and that they will only be removed from the general education classroom when their needs are so severe that special services are needed.