Understanding Indicator 6: Preschool Environments
Indicator 6: Preschool least restrictive environment (LRE) is an SPP/APR indicator focused on the percent of children aged 3 through 5 (not enrolled in kindergarten) with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) who receive special education and related services in settings with children who are typically developing. There are three components to this indicator:
6a. Children aged 3 through 5 with IEPs who attend a regular early childhood program and receive the majority of their special education and related services in the regular early childhood program.
6b. Children aged 3 through 5 with IEPs attend a separate special education class, separate school, or residential facility
6c. Children aged 3 through 5 with IEPs who receive their special education and related services in the home.
Policy and Position Statements
- Making Sound Preschool LRE Decisions - From the Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) this webpage provides recommendations for important actions in the IEP development process that inform placement decisions for young children with disabilities. This resource includes:
- Federal Requirements on Inclusion - While the term inclusion is not mentioned in IDEA, the law does have regulations that advocate for serving children with disabilities in regular education settings. This page from the National Early Childhood Technical Assistance Center (ECTA) provides information regarding the federal requirements in IDEA focused on inclusion.
- Policy Statement on Inclusion of Children with Disabilities in Early Childhood Programs (November 28, 2023) - This policy statement, released jointly by the Departments of Education and Health and Human Services, re-affirms that all young children with disabilities should have access to high-quality inclusive early childhood programs that provide individualized and appropriate support so they can fully participate alongside their peers without disabilities and achieve their full potential.
- IDEA Data Center Preschool Environments Toolkit - This webpage includes materials and resources that provide information and support to local education agencies (LEA's) to collect, report, analyze, and use preschool environments data.
- Dear Colleague Letter on IDEA Services in Head Start (Oct. 5, 2022) - These documents state that state and local educational agencies and Head Start programs have responsibilities for implementing IDEA to ensure that children with disabilities enrolled in Head Start programs receive a free appropriate public education in the least restrictive environment.
- Kansas Special Education Process Handbook Chapter 6 Least Restrictive Environment - Provides the Kansas requirements and process for determining LRE.
Inclusion Research and Resources
KSDE Presentations on Indicator 6
For questions concerning Indictor 6 contact Amanda Petersen, KSDE Early Childhood Director.
For information regarding training around Indicator 6 or other early childhood special education questions, request assistance through TASN.