- Least restrictive environment means that a student who has a disability should have the opportunity to be educated with non-disabled students as much as possible. This includes all programs, classes and activities open to non-disabled students, says The Free Dictionary website.
- IDEA, which replaced Education of the Handicapped Act in 1990, is a federal law that regulates how early intervention, special education and other services are provided to children with disabilities from birth to 21 years old in the United States, according to Education.com.
- Only certain children with disabilities --- such as mental retardation, hearing impairments and speech impairments --- can qualify for special education. Students with severe disabilities are placed in a special classroom or other program as determined by a multidisciplinary team including his parent, teacher, school psychologist and school administrator. States aren't required to participate in IDEA, but all do to some extent, says The Free Dictionary website.