LRE and Continuum of Educational Placement

Every child has the right to a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in a setting that meets their unique needs. This refers to the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), a key part of the federal law, IDEA (Individuals with Disabilities Education Act).

Here is the important part: LRE is not one specific place. It is more about how services can be delivered to give your child the best access to learning, communication, and connection, based on what they need to learn and grow.

Watch OCALI’s LRE video to gain a deeper understanding.

As you and the IEP team are in the LRE decision-making process, your child's needs and the services that support them should be clearly listed in their IEP.

For children who are deaf/hard of hearing, the LRE also represents a language-rich environment. For more information on language rich environments, explore: Optimizing Outcomes for Deaf/Hard of Hearing Students.

If your child cannot access communication or instruction throughout their school day, it is not the least restrictive environment.

LRE Considerations for Deaf or Hard of Hearing Children

For children who are deaf or hard of hearing, placement decisions should consider your child’s unique communication and learning needs. Important factors include:

• Language access: Your child has full access to their preferred language and communication all day, and in all situations.
• Availability of peers: Opportunities to interact with other children of similar ages, who use the same language and communication mode as your child.
• Qualified staff: Teachers, interpreters, and any needed support professionals who are proficient in your child’s primary communication method.
• Literacy support: Available strategies and tools to help deaf/hard of hearing learners access phonics, an important aspect of the Science of Reading.
• Use of assistive technology: Devices such as hearing aids, FM systems, cochlear implants, and captioning services to support learning as needed.
• Learner Profile: Your child’s academic strengths, needs, and learning style.
• Social-Emotional and Cultural Connection: Supports that foster a sense of belonging and emotional well-being at school, and an opportunity for connection to deaf/hard of hearing culture.
• Communication Plan: a structured plan to address considerations for learners who are deaf/hard of hearing. This plan outlines how your child's language and communication needs can be met. Try our “Communication Planning Guide,” to get started.

Continuum of Educational Placements

Federal law requires schools to offer a range of placement options for service delivery. These options are known as a "continuum of alternative placements." This may include:

• Regular, general education classroom full time with services and supports.
• Special education classroom for students with disabilities.
• Special education schools.
• Specialized school or program for deaf/hard of hearing.
• Residential school or program.
• Home schooling.
• Instruction in hospitals and institutions.

As your child grows, their communication and learning needs may change. That means their Least Restrictive Environment and how services are delivered might need to change, too, and that is okay. Staying connected with your IEP team and working together regularly helps ensure your child remains supported, engaged, healthy, and ready to learn—at every stage of their journey.