7A Amanda Barbone reviewing Nicole Y. Least Resitricted Environment

As you mentioned throughout your paper not only at the beginning, that Least Restricted Environment (LRE) has a complex history and that it is consistently changing to improve learning of those with disabilities.  Have worked in special education for a few years now, I couldn't agree with your discussion and statements in relation to it has to be the LRE for that student.  Regardless of the diagnoses an inclusion setting might not be the best LRE for that particular student.  Take example the ED (emotionally disturbed) students I teach daily.  Of my eight students only two have academic goals, as the rest are all on an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) for their misbehaviors.  My job as a special educator is to get each individuals behavior maintained to prepare them to slowly be placed back into a regular education classroom with support and then hopefully one day back into their home school.  In a recent case with one of my students new to the ED unit, was having outbursts of very aggressive behaviors physically hurting other students and myself.  Strategies were implemented, data was collected for six weeks, and have those six weeks, the IEP team meet again and determined that this student is not near mainstreaming into a regular education class and was placed in a separated more contained school for behavior.  Just because a child is labeled something doesn't mean they automatically go to a separate school or placement.
I really like how you discussed not only the benefits of students with disabilities to be in the regular education class but how the regular education students benefit from having the special education students in their room.  I have seen first hand a regular education student take a student with a disability under her wing and help the student through not only academics but her daily routine.  To see this exact thing in action was a beautiful thing. 
When determining the LRE for a student it is important to back up the decision with data and like you mentioned it is a process.  I like how you touched the procedures to determine the LRE in accordance with the IDEA of 2004, in your PowerPoint because it goes to show how many factors are considered before the IEP make that determination.
Nicole, overall I feel like you did a very nice job touching on the basis of LRE along with providing great discussion questions. Nice job!!