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Statistics About The Least Restrictive Environment Law

The Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) law requires schools to place students with disabilities in general education classrooms to the maximum extent possible.

Last Updated: June 20, 2024

Written & Summarized by: Jannik Lindner

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In the following post, we will examine key statistics related to the ‘Least Restrictive Environment Law’ under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). These statistics shed light on the inclusion of students with disabilities in educational settings, highlighting trends, challenges, and outcomes associated with the implementation of this important law.

Statistic 1

"The 'Least Restrictive Environment Law' is part of IDEA - Individuals with Disabilities Education Act which was last reauthorized in 2004."

Statistic 2

"Approximately 95% of students with disabilities are educated in regular classrooms for at least part of the day."

Statistic 3

"In 2018, 33% of children and youth with disabilities were served in a general education class for most of the day."

Statistic 4

"As of 2019, 21.3% of full-time, first-time students who reported having a disability received two or more accommodations or services."

Statistic 5

"63% of students with disabilities spent greater than 80% of their school day in regular classes in 2018."

Statistic 6

"The percentage of students with disabilities in general education classes increased from 31.6% in 1989 to 61.1% in 2017."

Statistic 7

"By state, Wyoming had the highest rate in 2018 (76.7%) of students with disabilities spending 80% or more of their day in a regular classroom."

Statistic 8

"In a review of 40 years of research, over 80 studies indicated that students with disabilities have higher achievement and improved skills through inclusive education."

Statistic 9

"In 2018, nearly 14% of all public school students—7 million children—were served under IDEA."

Statistic 10

"There was a 2.6% increase from 2011-12 to 2018-19 in the number of students ages 3–21 who received special education services under IDEA."

Statistic 11

"Teachers with limited preparation for inclusion are 2.5x more likely to refer students to special education."

Statistic 12

"Students with disabilities who spend 80% or more of their school day in general education classrooms had higher rates of on-time graduation than their peers who were served in other settings."

Statistic 13

"In 2020, students receiving special education services ranged from a low of 11.8% in Hawaii to a high of 19.2% in Maine."

Statistic 14

"There has been a 30% increase in the last decade in the number of students classified as having Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)."

Statistic 15

"Students with disabilities are more likely to be chronically absent (17.1%) than their non-disabled peers (12.3%)."

Statistic 16

"Over a third of all students with disabilities dropping out were students with specific learning disabilities (37.5%)."

Statistic 17

"Over 60% of students with disabilities pursue postsecondary education within 8 years of leaving high school."

Statistic 18

"Special education litigation involving the Least Restrictive Environment increased by 51% from 1998 to 2012."

Statistic 19

"According to the National Education Association, there is a shortage of special education teachers, with a projected increase of 17% from 2008 to 2018."

In conclusion, the statistics presented highlight the importance and impact of the Least Restrictive Environment Law under IDEA on the education of students with disabilities. While progress has been made in integrating these students into regular classrooms, there are still challenges such as teacher preparation and chronic absenteeism to address. The positive outcomes associated with inclusive education, such as higher achievement and graduation rates, underscore the value of continued efforts to ensure equal educational opportunities for all students, regardless of their disabilities.