An assessment to increase the capacity to provide a free and appropriate education in the Santa Barbara School Districts

The Education for All Handicapped Children Act of 1975 established the basis for the mandate to provide all children with disabilities a Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) in the Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) and aligned the state and school districts ability to receive federal funding. The most recent legislation, Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEIA) of 2004, also mandates that students receive a free and appropriate education in the least restrictive environment. Federal funding for special education continues to be contingent upon the states and school districts ability to demonstrate FAPE in the LRE.;The California Department of Education requires each school district to complete the California Department of Education LRE Self Assessment and Continuous Improvement Activities Tool. The purpose of this mixed methods study was to compare the strengths and weaknesses of the current LRE service model of the Santa Barbara School Districts (SBSD), as well as the inhibitors and enhancers for implementing improvement strategies to the current LRE model. The purpose is to also assess SBSD's ability to provide FAPE in the LRE. This three phase mixed methodology study assessed the current LRE service model of the SBSD utilizing the California Department of Education LRE Self Assessment and Continuous Improvement Activities Tool. The study identified the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats to identify improvements by the completion of a SWOT Analysis. This analysis also revealed the strengths and weaknesses of the current LRE service model and the internal and external factors which inhibit or enhance the SBSD's ability to provide FAPE in the LRE.