General education classroom, special day class (SDC), homeschool, home hospital, non-public school (NPS) — what do they all have in common? In the IEP world, this is called placement, and it’s always paired with something called the least restrictive environment (LRE). Basically, it means our kids should be part of the general education classroom as much as possible — while still getting all the supports they need to thrive. Sounds simple, right? In theory, sure — but in reality, we all know placement can be a very emotional topic, to say the least.
As parents, we just want to know our kids are in a placement where they feel supported, understood, and able to grow. But when schools only offer a few options (and sometimes aren’t very clear about what those are), it can feel like there’s not much choice. Maybe you’re just starting to explore options, from the least restrictive to more specialized settings. Maybe you need help talking to the IEP team about a placement that better fits your child’s unique needs (like an NPS). Or maybe you’re advocating for a change because the current setup just isn’t working, but are afraid to speak up and ‘rock the boat.’ No matter where you are in the process, we’ve got you covered with everything you need to know to support your kiddo.
Check out our free resources on LRE, private schools, NPS, homeschooling, why placement is not the same as location, and more. Plus, get tips on what to do if your child’s placement isn’t working — whether they need more (or less) support or you’re advocating to keep them at their neighborhood school. And don’t miss our go-to responses for those frustrating, misleading, or just plain wrong statements you might hear in an IEP meeting when it comes to your kiddo’s placement.
- Least Restrictive Environment and Placement Options in an IEP
- Homeschooling 101
- Non-Public School (NPS) 101
- Private School 101
- Home Hospital 101
- What to Do If Your Child’s Placement Isn’t Working
- Do Schools Have to Offer Inclusive Extended School Year (ESY)?
- Fostering Inclusion in Online Learning for Students with Extensive Support Needs
- 8 Ways to Respond to Your IEP Team When You Disagree about Placement and Inclusion
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* Are you concerned about what the latest Medicaid updates could mean for your child’s services? Join us on Thursday, March 27, 2025, 12:00 p.m.–1:30 p.m. PT for a free Zoom webinar with Aaron Carruthers, Executive Director of the State Council on Developmental Disabilities. He will go over what changes to Medicaid are being proposed, what to expect if those changes go into effect, and how families can contact policy makers about how to protect essential programs. RSVP for the live event here!
* Join us for expert office hours with Undivided Research Lead Adriana Roze on Wednesday, April 2 at 12:00 p.m PT. Adriana’s focus is on finding a great summer camp for your child, so be sure to attend if you haven’t signed your child up for summer programming yet! If you’re not an Undivided member yet, get started here to join us for office hours every week.
* Tune in: Undivided Conversations: Individualized Education Plan Strategies and Least Restrictive Environment → Join us Friday, March 21, at 12:00 p.m. PT on our Facebook page for a chat with Undivided parent Leeza and Non-Attorney Education Advocate Lisa Carey. They’ll cover parent amendments to the IEP, the Least-Restrictive Environment (LRE), and what to do if you need to adjust — or reinstate — your child’s services. Don’t miss it!
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Do you know the difference between placement and location in your child’s IEP? Hear this explanation from education advocate Dr. Sarah Pelangka→
March is Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month! Learn about this year’s theme in our Instagram post→
One of Undivided’s founders, Jason Lehmbeck, is developing solutions for unmet needs in mental health for families and children with disabilities. Hear him talk about his new venture in this LinkedIn post→
