IEP Individualized Education Plan
Welcome! If you are here, that means that your child has an IEP. Or, you’ve been recently told that perhaps they should have one. I call this “the knowledge base I wish I didn’t have to have” but hey, here we are. We have to do this for our kids, so let’s do it well. Lucky for you (and your child!) you found one of the best online resources for IEPs, me!
No, seriously, I love talking about IEPs and explaining it to parents.
Before we get started-
Acknowledge that you’re going to be on the learning curve. It’s a cumbersome and overwhelming process. You will feel frustrated at times and maybe confused. Others will talk in acronyms and other strange language that you don’t know. Yet. Own that word-YET. You will learn this and you will become a great advocate for your child.
Please don’t let this overwhelm you. As you read articles on here, pin them, bookmark them, and do it in phases. Chunk it down, just like we would for our kids! You might feel a sense of urgency to learn this all as soon as possible. Learn to curb that feeling because the IEP process by itself is slow. Nothing gets resolved in a day or one meeting.
What is an IEP?
IEP stands for Individual Education Plan. Basically, it is just what it says. Children with disabilities are entitled to a “free and appropriate education” but what that looks like for each child is Individual. The concept of Special Education has only been around (at the national level) since 1975. That is when the IDEA law was passed, which stands for Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. Additionally, each state also has its own separate set of Special Education Regulations. You should familiarize yourself with both IDEA and your state’s regs which can be found online.
FAPE (Free and Appropriate Education) is the cornerstone of Special Education, so you should learn and understand the concept.
As you learn the process and go through this with your child, please know that the IEP is not just a meeting, and it is not just one document. It is an on-going, year-long process. You do not just go to one meeting, go over one document and that’s it. As a parent, you should be engaged in the process the entire year, every year. Yes, I know, it’s overwhelming. I get it. My child has one too.
How does a child get an IEP?
Someone, usually a parent or teacher, has referred the child to be evaluated for an IEP. That is the first step of the IEP process-evaluations. Here are some tips on getting started in Special Education Evaluations.
- How to get an IEP.
- What Special Education Evaluations should I ask for?
- How to Request Special Education Evaluations
- How long does a school have to do Special Education evaluations?
After the Evaluations
After the evaluations are complete, the school will generate what is known as an ER, for Evaluation Report. They should hold a meeting to discuss this with you.
And then on to the IEP
What the evaluation report says will determine how the team will proceed. If it is determined that your child needs special education, a team will be formed. Other times, you may be offered something instead of an IEP, or denied any services whatsoever.
If the team says that they are going to draw up an IEP, then a meeting will be held. I have a separate post about that.
When you get the invitation to the IEP meeting, you should submit a Parent Concerns letter when you RSVP. This should be submitted prior to the meeting.
What’s in an IEP?
A quick version of the IEP is this: Cover Sheet with basic information—>Present Levels (should describe your child fully)—> Goals—> Supports and Services—> Progress Monitoring and LRE percentages.
Staying Engaged in the Process
As I stated above, parents need to be engaged in the process all year-round. There are certain things that a parent should be doing to maximize their value and input on the team. I have those things listed here. You also should have a system set up to organize your paperwork efficiently.
- 5 Things Every Parent Must Do in the IEP process.
- IEP organization: the best way to organize IEP files and paperwork!
- 3 Rules for Effective Communication with your IEP Team.
Depending on your state, evaluations are required every 2-3 years. Above, in the “5 Things” post, you will read ways that you can maximize your input in the evaluation process.
Maybe you’re thinking, “Wait, but I have some issues that I need further explanation on.” No problem, here are some common issues that come up. Read the article(s) that pertain to your situation, and use them as a guide to writing your letter.
Common Concerns
- {Transportation and your IEP} What Parents Need to Know.
- Double check this item on the front page of your IEP.
- Disability Classification on the IEP: Does it matter which box is checked?
- IEP Placements for Special Education Students~What Parents Need to know.
- How to get a 1:1 Aide/Para on your child’s IEP.
- Toileting/Potty Training and your IEP: How to add it + sample protocols.
- Goals, grades and your IEP. Items for parents to consider.
- {Seclusion and Restraint} What IEP parents need to know.
- Assistive Technology and your IEP: What parents need to know.
- Do IEP/504 Accommodations apply to extra-curricular activities?
- Do I have to tell the IEP team about my child’s medication?
- What are the special factors to consider in the IEP?
- {LRE~Least Restrictive Environment} What IEP Parents Need to Know.
- Homework and your IEP~A guide for parents.
- Can my child “walk” with graduating class even though she is not graduating?
- 10 Tips to Prevent your Child’s Recess from being Taken Away.
- What parents should know about ESY and their IEP.
- Are IEPs just for academics? {Spoiler Alert: No!}
- 7 Myths and Facts about requesting an IEP Meeting.
- Dear School: STOP calling me to come pick up my kid!
- Understanding Related Services on the IEP, for parents.
Ideas to Bring to the Meeting or include in Parent Concerns Letter
If you are having trouble defining what it is your child needs, I have dozens of lists. Most of them can be found in the two links below, but there’s also a search bar at the top of the blog if you need more ideas.
Transition Plans (including preschool transition)
- Transition: How to make it successful for your Adolescent and Young Adult.
- There are no IEPs in college. {Must-read tips from a mom who’s been there.}
- 5 Rock-Solid Tips for Parents: Special Ed Preschool to Kindergarten Transition.
If Discipline and Behavior have been an issue
- A Parents’ Guide to FBAs, Behaviors, Behavior Plans and more.
- You might want to add this to your child’s IEP. It could prevent suspensions.
- Manifestation Determination Hearing: What to Expect, How to Prepare for One, for parents.
- What to do when your child is suspended from school {with or without an IEP/504}.
- Zero tolerance policies and their devastating effect on kids in special education.
We don’t agree, now what?
- Should I sign an IEP I don’t agree with?
- I just want to see all my child’s records and files.
- {Special Education Mediation} What Parents Need to Know.
- Should I file for Due Process? {items for parents to consider}
- What parents need to know about Pendency/Stay Put.
- Should you represent yourself in Due Process? {no lawyer?!?}
- 5 IEP Complaint Options for Parents.
And there you go. Is that everything? Probably not. There’s only so much information you can put in one blog post. After all, even Wrightslaw has dozens of books on the topic. Depending on your situation, we could probably delve deeper into a lot of other topics. But, this should be enough for you to gain more confidence and be a better advocate for your child than you were before reading. You can always join our Facebook group to ask your specific questions.
Remember, a solid IEP is time consuming. But, it’s our kids’ education and outcomes that we’re advocating for.
Also read: What is a 504?
Lisa Lightner
Latest posts by Lisa Lightner
- FAQs about IEPs and Moving to a Different School/State. - September 16, 2019
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- If I request an IEP meeting, how long does the school have to respond? - September 12, 2019
