Emotional Disturbance The Least Restrictive Environment NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

Emotional Disturbance & The Least Restrictive Environment NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF SPECIAL EDUCATION TEACHERS 1

Educational Placements for Students with ED • Under IDEA, all students in special education must be educated in the least restrictive environment. • Least Restrictive Environment—The principle under IDEA that children in special education must be educated with their non disabled peers to the maximum extent appropriate 2

Educational Placements for Students with ED Where are students with ED being educated? — • General Education/Inclusion Classroom • Resource Room • Separate Class (self-contained class) • Separate School • Residential Facility • Psychiatric Hospital • Homebound/Hospital 3

General Education or Inclusion Classroom • Approximately 28% of all students classified with an emotional disturbance receive their education in the general education or inclusion classroom environment • The exceptional student receives the same academic instruction as the general education students with individualized academic and behavior management services as needed 4

Resource Room • Approximately 23 % of all students classified with an emotional disturbance receive their education in a resource room. • The exceptional student receives academic instruction in the general education classroom and the special education resource room. The division of time is based on the student’s individualized academic and behavioral needs 5

Special Education Classroom • Approximately 31% of all students classified with an emotional disturbance receive their education in a special education classroom (Also referred to as a “self-contained” classroom). • The exceptional student receives all educational services in the special education classroom • Students who are placed in self-contained classrooms tend to have more severe and disruptive behaviors than students who are placed in resource rooms 6

Separate Special Education School • Approximately 14% of all students classified with an emotional disturbance receive their education in a separate special education school (also referred to as an “Alternative Day School”). • The exceptional student receives all educational services in a setting that is separate from the regular public school. • The alternative school is specially designed for students who have academic and/or behavioral problems that are too severe or disruptive for the public school setting 7

Residential Treatment Facility • Approximately 2% of all students classified with an emotional disturbance receive their education in a residential treatment facility (also referred to as a RTF or RTC (Residential Treatment Center) • The exceptional student receives all educational services in a residential facility providing 24 -hour care for a time period normally ranging from a few months to a year or more, depending on the severity of the problem 8

Residential Treatment Facility • Outdoor adventure programs are often a critical component of certain residential treatment programs • programs attempt to teach students with ED thinking and decision making skills, group cooperation, self-reliance, and social skills combined with wilderness experiences. • Although safety considerations are always factored in, there is a certain element of risk involved in some of the activities, which lends its appeal to students with ED, especially those with serious behavioral issues. 9

Psychiatric Hospital Placement • Approximately 1% of all students classified with an emotional disturbance receive their education in a psychiatric hospital placement • Individualized assessment, intervention, and medical and educational services are provided in a hospital setting for students with severe psychological and/or medical problems that cannot be managed on an outpatient basis 10

Homebound Instruction • Approximately 1% of all students classified with an emotional disturbance receive their education as homebound instruction. • Individualized educational services are provided in the student’s home when he/she is unable to attend school for medical, behavioral or other reasons 11

Final Key Point on Educational Placement • **Conclusion-Relative to other students with disabilities, children with emotional or behavioral disorders: • …. are more likely to be educated outside the general education classroom (72% of the time, on average • …. and in almost half the cases, not educated in the general education classroom at all, e. g. , selfcontained, alternative day school, RSF, hospital or homebound) 12

Educational Implications of Students with Emotional Disturbance • School failure is the common link among students with emotional and behavioral disorders. • Regardless of intellectual potential, students with emotional or behavioral disorders do not perform well academically. 13

Educational Implications of Students with Emotional Disturbance • As compared to students without disabilities, students with emotional or behavioral disorders leave school at higher rates and are placed in more restrictive settings. • Research suggests that approximately 50% of students with emotional and/or behavioral disorders drop out of high school 14