The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) guarantees students with disabilities the right to be educated with their peers in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) to the maximum extent appropriate. IDEA also guarantees students with disabilities access to a full continuum of services and it is up to the IEP team to determine the Least Restrictive Environment for an individual student. The IEP team also determines the supports and accommodations necessary for successful participation in the LRE and other special education services as needed. According to the No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation, schools are responsible for ensuring that students with disabilities make Adequate Yearly Progress. One component of implementing IDEA and NCLB legislation is determining effective practices to educate students with disabilities in general education classes alongside their peers without disabilities. Training manuals, Frequently Asked Questions Regarding LRE, and an Elluminate LIVE! webinar series on effective practices are found below for educators to use in order to build capacity at the local school level. Additional resources will be added as they become available.

A CD-ROM entitled Co-Teaching Practices in Georgia is now available to schools. This CD contains the following information:

• An introduction from Kathy Cox, State Superintendent of Schools
• Perspectives from Georgia Administrators
• Perspective from Georgia Teachers
• Explanations of Co-Teaching
• Explanations of the Co-Teaching Approaches with Accompanying Video Clips of Each Approach
• Questions and Answers on Co-Teaching and Accompanying Handouts

GLRS and Special Education directors in each school district received copies. However, if you would like additional copies for your school please contact Susan Brozovic at sbrozovic@doe.k12.ga.us or 404-657-9956.

The Division for Special Education Supports, Professional Learning program, has also provided the following Elluminate Live! Sessions on Co-Teaching in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE). Please go to http://elluminate.gavirtualschool.org/doe/index.html and click on the Recordings tab at the top left. Go to the date listed below to access the desired session.

September 19, 2007	Teaching Students with Disabilities in the LRE
October 29, 2007	Effective Co-Teaching: The Six Approaches
December 20, 2007	Co-Planning for Teachers in the LRE
January 29, 2008	Differentiating Instruction in the LRE

• Frequently Asked Questions Regarding LRE
• LRE Training Manuals