Least Restrictive Environment Policy
of the Illinois State Board of Education
January 2000
The Illinois State Board of Education (“ISBE”) approves and adopts this policy on least
restrictive environment on the _____ of January 2000.
Least Restrictive Environment
The least restrictive environment concept requires that students with disabilities be
provided a free appropriate public education with their non-disabled peers. The least
restrictive environment is structured to facilitate and promote the disabled student’s
involvement and progress in the general education curriculum and support a successful
transition from secondary education to adult life.
Educational Setting
The Illinois State Board of Education believes that because placement decisions must
be consistent with a student’s unique learning needs and identified disabilities, no one
placement is appropriate for all students. Each school district, or appropriate public
agency in the State, is responsible for providing a continuum of alternative placement
options. In determining the least restrictive environment, the public agency must
consider any potential harmful effects of the student’s placement on the student or on
the quality of service that the student may require. The student’s placement shall not be
driven by local availability of services or administrative convenience but shall be
customized and flexible to allow students with unique learning needs and disabilities to
be appropriately educated.
A child with a disability shall not be removed from education with age-appropriate
regular classroom peers solely because of needed modification(s) or support(s) in the
education curriculum. Disabled children shall only be removed from the general
education environment and be placed into special classes, separate schools, or other
setting when nature or severity of the disability prevents education, even with the use of
supplementary aids and services from satisfactorily addressing the student’s
educational needs.
Nonacademic Settings
The least restrictive environment policy also applies to nonacademic settings. In
providing nonacademic and extracurricular services and activities, each public agency
shall assure the Illinois State Board of Education that every student with a disability
participates with non-disabled students in those services and activities appropriate to
the student’s needs as outlined in the Individual Education Program. Nonacademic and
extracurricular services and activities shall include but not be limited to meals, recess
periods, and other such services and activities provided to non disabled children,
determined as deemed appropriate by the IEP team.
Assurances
The Illinois State Board of Education shall require assurances from each public
education agency that a continuum of placement options is available to meet the needs
of students with disabilities. Each public agency shall assure that the educational
placement of each student with a disability is:
 determine at least annually, by the individualized educational program (IEP)
team composed of the student’s parent(s), a local educational agency
representative, and other required participants as outlined in Federal and
State rules;
 based on the student’s IEP; and
 located as close to the student’s home as possible. Unless the student’s IEP
requires some other appropriate arrangement, the student shall be educated
in the school that he or she would attend if the student had not been identified
as having a disability.
Monitoring Activities
The Illinois State Board of Education shall carry out monitoring and compliance
activities to ensure that the least restrictive environment concept is implemented by
each public agency. If the Illinois State Board of Education discovers evidence that a
public agency is making placements that are inconsistent with the least restrictive
environment provisions of the IDEA, the Illinois State Board of Education will review the
public agency’s justification for its actions and assist, if necessary, in planning and
implementing any necessary corrective action.
Technical Assistance and Training Activities
The Illinois State Board of Education will carry out activities to ensure that teachers and
administrators in all public agencies are informed about their responsibilities for
implementing the least restrictive environment concept within their agency. They will
further be reminded of their obligation to provide each identified disabled student with a
free and appropriate public education at no expense to the student’s parents or legal
guardian. The Illinois State Board of Education will provide the necessary technical
assistance and training to assist agencies in this effort.