LRE, Can The IEP Consider A Student's Effects On The Education Of Other Students?

When determining LRE, can the IEP consider a student’s effects on the education of other students? If so, how? If not, why not? Yes, the IEP team can consider a student’s effects on the education of other students. According to Yell (2016), “the IDEA indicates that a legitimate consideration in determining the LRE of a student with disabilities is the needs of student’s peers” (p. 246). He also states “if the student has a health condition that poses an actual risk of contagion to other students, the student may be place in a setting in which he risk is minimized” (p. 246). According to Section 504, as mentioned in Yell (2016),
“where a [ student with disabilities] is so disruptive in a regular classroom that the education of others students is significantly impaired, the needs of the [students with disabilities] cannot be met in that environment. Therefor regular placement would not be appropriate to his or her needs” (Section 504 Regulations, 34 C.F.R § 104 Appendix A Paragraph 34) In my teaching experiences, I have never had a student on my caseload where the needs of the student(s) were this extreme. I have cases where typically developing
The Center for Parent Information and Resources, gives the following explanation of procedural protections, “to inform parents completely about the procedural safeguards available under IDEA. These represent their rights as parents and the protections they have—and their child as well—under the law and its implementing regulations.” In my experience, we offer parents a copy of the procedural safeguards when; 1) a parent brings their child in for an evaluation, 2) at annual IEP meetings. We also offer parents a copy in their native language (if available). Often times parents will refuse additional copies after they receive their initial. What is mediation? Describe the mediation process. What powers do mediators have in educational