An analysis of least restrictive environment placement variables in physical education

The purpose of this study was to determine the variables related to the successful least restrictive placement of students with disabilities into physical education classes. Subjects were 470 school building representatives and 62 adapted physical education professors throughout the nation. Confidence interval estimates (95%) of school building data correlated highest on relative importance with university census data on 8 of 37 total variables: motor ability test scores, developmental scale scores, reaching individualized education program instructional objectives, special education teacher recommendation, regular physical educator recommendation, activity offerings, classroom physical accessibility, and safety considerations. These represent those variables that should be used in some "best practices" combination by school personnel in making decisions regarding relevant students' class placement within physical education least restrictive environment alternatives. In addition, staff recommendation category variables were considered more important than test score, student related, class related, and administrative category variables.