When applied to children with special needs, the term least restrictive environment refers to __________.

The term "least restrictive environment" when applied to children with special needs refers to the setting in which they can receive an appropriate education designed to meet their unique needs, while being exposed to and interacting with children without disabilities to the greatest extent possible.

This concept is a key requirement of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The law mandates that children with disabilities should be educated with children without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate, and that special classes or separate schooling should only occur when the nature or severity of the disability is such that education in regular classes cannot be achieved satisfactorily.

In practice, the least restrictive environment will look different for each child, as it should be based on their individual needs. For some children, this might mean spending part of the day in a general education classroom and part of the day receiving more intensive services in a separate setting. For others, it might mean being in a general education classroom with supports and modifications.

The goal is always to ensure that the child is able to learn and grow in an environment that is as close as possible to what would be typical for their non-disabled peers, while still meeting their unique learning needs.