September 2010This information in Spanish | Esta información en español IEP stands for "individualized education program." An IEP is a written statement for a child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in a meeting in keeping with certain requirements of law and regulations. These requirements are discussed in this section.The big pictureWho develops the IEP?What an IEP must containExtra IEP content for youth with disabilitiesA … [Read more...]
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PDFPresent Levels
September 2010 This info in Spanish | Esta información en español IDEA requires that each IEP must include a statement of the child's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance. This part of the IEP is commonly referred to as the "present levels statement." For short, we're just going to call it "present levels." If you'd like to know more about it-- the information to include, where to get it from, and the … [Read more...]
Annual Goals
September 2010 This info in Spanish | Esta información en español Now let's take a look at annual goals, the second component of the IEP, in the following sections: Annual goals, in a nutshell IDEA's exact words Tie between “present levels” and annual goals Using prompting questions Addressing the child’s academic & functional needs The importance of “annual” and “measurable” Examples What … [Read more...]
Benchmarks or Short-Term Objectives
September 2010 In the past, benchmarks or short-term objectives were required elements in every child’s IEP. No longer, however. Now, benchmarks or short-term objectives are required only for children with disabilities who take alternate assessments aligned to alternate achievement standards.IDEA's exact wordsPurpose of benchmarks and short-term objectivesExampleFor whom are benchmarks or objectives required?And for other children? At a state's … [Read more...]
Measuring and Reporting Progress
September 2010 This info in Spanish | Esta información en español Another component of the IEP that IDEA requires is specifying how the child’s progress will be measured. This statement flows naturally out of the annual goals written for the child, which must be measurable. If you're familiar with the 1997 Amendments to IDEA, you'll recognize this component, because it is maintained under the Amendments of 2004. IDEA's exact words Prompting … [Read more...]
Special Education
Updated March 2013This info in Spanish | Esta información en español The IEP must also contain a statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services to be provided to the child, or on behalf of the child. That's three separate, distinct, and critical elements--special education, related services, and supplementary aids and services--and each is worthy of a book on its own.Don't worry! We won't write a book-length … [Read more...]
Related Services
September 2010 Resources updated, March 2013 This info in Spanish | Esta información en español The IEP must contain a statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services to be provided to the child, or on behalf of the child. We've split up the discussion of each of these important elements, because there is so much to say about each. This article focuses on related services. _______________________ IDEA's … [Read more...]
Supplementary Aids and Services
Updated March 2013 This info in Spanish | Esta información en español The IEP must contain a statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services to be provided to the child, or on behalf of the child. We've split up the discussion of each of these important elements, because there is so much to say about each. This article focuses on supplementary aids and services. IDEA's exact words The … [Read more...]
Program Modifications for School Personnel
September 2010 Developing a student's IEP also includes identifying the program modifications or supports for school personnel that will be provided to enable the child to…do the specific things listed in IDEA's provisions. Have a look. IDEA's Exact Words As stated at §300.320(a)(4) (and no doubt very familiar to you by now, if you've been reading these articles in order), each child's IEP must contain: (4) A statement of the special … [Read more...]
Extent of Nonparticipation
September 2010This info in Spanish | Esta información en español This short article addresses the component of the IEP we’ll call “extent of nonparticipation.” The language at §300.320(a)(5) states the IEP must include:(5) An explanation of the extent, if any, to which the child will not participate with nondisabled children in the regular class and in the activities described in paragraph (a)(4) of this section...This provision is pretty … [Read more...]
