An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a roadmap for the supports and services the school will provide your child to help them thrive. IEPs are legal documents covered under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and are written based on data collected both from the classroom and from the evaluation done with your child prior to writing the IEP.
The IEP is all-encompassing document, and the same formatting is used for every student within special education. Some of the questions/boxes will not pertain to your child. IEPs are kept in both your child's cumulative file at school and are stored into our state's online database. The special education teacher refers to the IEP often and adds data points throughout the academic year. You will be given a copy of the IEP following the IEP meeting, and you can request a copy at any time.
Parts to an IEP:
Family Page: Documentation of the child's age, grade, date of birth, etc. Family's names and contact information.
A Page: Details about when the meeting is happening and who attends the IEP meeting.
B Page: Basic information about your child and what needs will be addressed in the IEP. This is also where we document your child's voice with their strengths, interests, and preferences. We also have an additional box to document your concerns as a parent.
Goals: For each area that is of concern for your child, an annual goal is written. This goal is written to be achieved a year later from our meeting date. You may hear these goals referred to as SMART goals - specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-based. This page will also detail how progress will be monitored and the data used when writing the goal.
F Page: What instruction your child will receive and the length of time the instruction will take place. It also lists what accommodations, modification, technology, and supports your child will be provided.
G Page: A few additional questions about your child's education program as well as what testing accommodations will be necessary for in-class tests as well as state wide assessments.
H Page: Just as general education teachers give you report cards, special education teachers give you progress reports, which are documented here. This is where we provide written updates on the child's progress over the last quarter/trimester and what we have been working on. --If you would like updates more frequently, I am happy to do so!
I Page: Any additional information. This is where we have been outlining what services will look like in the event of a shutdown, such as what we experienced with the pandemic. Hopefully never again!
R Page: Every three years, your child is re-evaluated to check if they continue to qualify for special education services and what progress has been made. All of those findings are documented here.
Forms: Additional paperwork such as the meeting notice, electronic consent forms, and other documents pertinent to the IEP.
IEPs can be long and a bit confusing. If you have any lingering questions or would like to review the information face-to-face, please reach out!