Opinion ID: 3012968
Heading Depth: 3
Heading Rank: 1

Heading: Least Restrictive Environment

Text: The School District premises much of its argument on the idea that Bruce Street is the least restrictive environment (LRE). The ALJ found that although Bruce Street is contained within a neighborhood school with nondisabled children, its mainstreaming opportunities were actually de minimis. We have adopted a two-part test for determining whether a School District complies with the LRE requirement. The first step is for the court to determine whether the school can educate the child in a regular classroom with the use of supplementary aids and services. If, as here, the child cannot be educated in a regular classroom, the next step is to decide whether the school is mainstreaming the child to the maximum extent possible. Oberti, 995 F.2d at 1215. Before we reach this two-part test though, we note that the child must be educated in the LRE that will provide a meaningful educational benefit. See T.R., 205 F.3d at 578. In Carlisle, we noted that the LRE would ideally be the same school the child would have attended if she were not disabled. 62 F.3d at 535. However, we prefaced that statement by noting that such placement is only appropriate to the extent that it “satisfactorily educates” the disabled child. Id. The School District and District Court’s 17 emphasis on the LRE requirement here is misplaced. The School District must first prove that the IEP will provide a meaningful educational benefit. The School District cannot bootstrap the meaningful educational benefit with the LRE requirement. The “IDEA requires that disabled students be educated in the least restrictive appropriate educational environment.” Ridgewood, 172 F.3d at 249 (emphasis added). If the educational environment is not appropriate, then there is no need to consider whether it is the least restrictive. Even considering the mainstreaming opportunities the School District points to, we agree with the ALJ that they are de minimis. Other than potential interaction at lunch or recess (in a uniform segregating the Bruce Street students from the nondisabled students), the School District points to art with sign interpreter and “after school sports with late bus” proving Bruce Street is the LRE. App. at A458. The LRE should be considered in light of I.H.’s specific educational needs. Geis v. Bd. Educ., 774 F.2d 575, 583 (3d Cir. 1985). As the ALJ noted, art with sign interpreter would provide almost no educational benefit to I.H. Therefore, any value from mainstreaming is marginal. As to the “after school sports with late bus,” the School District does not detail to what extent I.H., in kindergarten, would even be able to use this program.