Which principle requires that students with disabilities be educated with nondisabled peers to the greatest extent appropriate?

• A. Inclusion
• B. Full inclusion in every class
• C. Least Restrictive Environment
• D. Separate placement

Answer: (C)

Least Restrictive Environment is the standard that guides where a student with a disability should be educated. It requires placing the student in the general education setting with nondisabled peers to the greatest extent possible, and then providing the necessary supports and services to help them succeed there. The idea is to keep the student as close as possible to typical peers and classroom routines, using accommodations, assistive technology, paraprofessional support, or co‑teaching as needed. Only if the general education setting with supports cannot meet the student’s needs would the team consider a more restrictive placement, and even then, only to the extent necessary. This distinction matters because while inclusion reflects the goal of learning alongside nondisabled peers, the legal decision is about placement along a continuum to ensure the setting is the least restrictive for that individual. Separate placement would generally not be appropriate as long as the student can be supported in a less restrictive environment.