How do the least restrictive environment provisions of federal law relate to preschool children with disabilities?
The IDEA requirements regarding the education of children in the least restrictive environment (LRE) apply to preschool children with disabilities. [34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.552.] However, if the local education agency (LEA) has no preschool program for children without disabilities, there is no federal requirement to establish programs for children without disabilities for the sole purpose of implementing the IDEAs LRE requirements for children with disabilities. Similarly, there is no federal requirement for an LEA to establish extensive contract programs with private schools which serve both children with disabilities and children without disabilities solely to implement the LRE requirements. Nevertheless, the U.S. Department of Education has emphasized the requirement that the full range of placement options be available to preschool-age special education students. The full continuum of alternative placements at 34 C.F.R. Sec. 300.551. [regular classes, special classes, special schools,
