LEAST RESTRICTIVE ENVIRONMENT
To the maximum extent appropriate, children with disabilities through the age of twenty- one, including children in public and nonpublic institutions or other care facilities, are educated with children who are not disabled, and special classes, separate schooling, or other removal of children with disabilities from the regular education environment occurs only when the nature or severity of the disability of a child is such that education in regular classes with the use of supplementary aids and services cannot be achieved satisfactorily.
Individual Education Plans (IEPs) will be developed by teams, which will include all roles identified with Federal and state rules, within 30 days from the initial eligibility decision and at least annually, consistent with state and Federal rules and regulations The district will use the state-provided model forms to make sure all required components are considered and included. While a draft may be developed before an IEP meeting, the draft will not be considered as the final version and shall be reviewed and revised based on the team, including the parent, input and consensus. If a parent requests an alternate means of attendance, the team will offer attendance via phone or virtual conferences Procedures for such options will be developed to ensure confidentiality and to obtain proper signatures.
NDE document “Supporting Document to Checklist of Required Special Education Policies, Procedures and practices for Part B of the IDEA” shall serve as an administrative procedure to this policy. The entire document can be found at http://www.education.ne.gov/sped/regulations.html.
Approved July 14, 2014 Reviewed _______________ Revised October 9, 2023
