IEP Stands for…35 Most Common Special Education Acronyms

Special Education Acronyms and Terms

When I first started this journey, I swore that I wouldn’t do this! I swore that I would never be one of “those people.” Those people who speak in IEP and special education acronyms. Guess what? I am one. And let’s face it, acronyms exist for a reason. IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan. To say “individualized education plan” over and over is much more cumbersome than IEP. Or NOREP, that’s a long one. What’s a NOREP? Glad you asked!

For a long time, I thought of publishing a list of acronyms on here. Pattan puts one out and I have it. But they are also available online. Some of the sites I have seen list up to 3 pages of them! So what I decided to do, poll the parents in the Facebook group about what acronyms they find themselves using frequently. So no, I haven’t statistically or scientifically verified that these are the most commonly used special education acronyms, this is anecdotal.

But there definitely was a pattern. If I was going to recommend a list of special education acronyms that you should memorize, this would be the list. In this list of special education acronyms, I also have hyperlinked most of them to a post explaining more about it. I wanted to keep the explanations brief on this list.

IEP Acronyms

For most of them, you can click on the Special Education Acronym to get more information. Also, if you scroll down I have more information and even a free printable of IEP Acronyms.

Chart of Special Education Acronyms

ABA	Applied Behavior Analysis
APS	Approved Private Schoool
AT/AAC	Assistive Technology/Augmented Communication
BCBA	Board Certified Behavior Analyst
BIP/PSP/PBSP	Behavior Improvement Plan/Positive Support Plan
BASC	Behavior Assessment System for Children
DIBELS	Dynamic Indicator of Basic Early Literacy Skills, an early reading assessment.
ED	Emotionally Disturbed
ER	Evaluation Report. Your child only ever receives one ER report. Everything after the first one is an RR.
ESY	Extended School Year
FAPE	Free and Appropriate Education
FBA	Functional Behavior Assessment
IEE	Independent Education Evaluation
LEA	Local Education Agency
LRE	Least Restrictive Environment
MA	Medical Assistance, Medicaid
OCR	Office of Civil Rights
PLOP	Present Levels of Performance or PLAAFP
PT	Physical Therapy/Therapist (work on gross motor skills)
PTE	Permission to Evaluate
PWN	Prior Written Notice
O & M	Orientation and Mobility
RR	Re-evaluation Report, for most every 3 years.
SD	School District
SDI	Specially Designed Instruction
SLD	Specific Learning Disability
SLP	Speech Language Pathologist
TVI	Teacher of the Visually Impaired
OT	Occupational Therapy/Therapist (fine motor skills)
ASD	Autism Spectrum Disorder (one of the disability classifications on an IEP)
ED	Emotionally Disturbed (one of the disability classifications on an IEP)
ELL/ESL	English Language Learner/Second Language
EI	Early Intervention
IFSP	Individual Family Service Plan
OHI	Other Health Impaired (one of the disability classifications on an IEP) ADHD falls under this
RTI/MDSS	Response to Intervention or Multi Disciplinary Supports Services, RTI is NOT special education
FERPA	Federal Education Records Privacy Act
HH	Hard of Hearing
IEP	Individualized Education Plan
AEDY	Alternative Education for Disruptive Youth

State Specific Special Education Acronyms

1. IU-Intermediate Unit, these are unique to PA and we have 29 of them, they are the “intermediate unit” that is the link between the state department of education and the school district, provide special ed services
2. ARD-this is unique to Texas, stands for Admission, Review, Dismissal
3. PDE-Pennsylvania Department of Education
4. LTF–Local Task Force, PA only, please join yours!
5. NOREP-Notice of Recommended Educational Placement. It’s what PA calls the PWN.

Printable List of Special Education Acronyms

Education_ABCs

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Do you speak the language?

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