Federal law and regulations presume that a student with a disability will be educated in general education classes with their “typically developing” peers. Your school district must ensure that a student is not removed from the general education environment unless the nature and severity of the disability is such that education in general classes with supplementary aids and services cannot be satisfactorily achieved. Supplementary aids and services can range from assistive technology such as computers with special software to additional staff support (e.g. one-to-one paraprofessional assistance, a note-taker or test-giver). These support services can be provided in the general education classroom, general education environment or in other education-related settings. Any supplementary aid or service that the IEP team agrees on must be included in the IEP.^[1]

1. 34 C.F.R. Secs. 300.42 & 300.114-300.120.[↩]