Individualized Special Needs Education Program
What is an "IEP"?
An IEP is an acronym for individualized education plan. An IEP is also a legal document that is created out of the IEP meaning. Once the student that has been identified as having an exceptional need, the IEP team puts together a plan to help the student be successful for the next academic year. The purpose of the IEP is to take the students needs and strengths as well as assessment data in creating goals and objectives including accommodations and modifications, using it as a guide to help instruct that student of the next year.
How can I enroll my child into a special education program?
Students aren't typically enrolled in special education programs. Students must first be found eligible through the IEP process for special education. That's only after a documented SST, or student success team has documented their interventions and the lack of success through those interventions. Once eligibility has been determined, then the placement will be decided upon, which is to say that the proper program will be chosen for the student.
How do I choose the right special education program for my child?
Parents can make sure that their children are properly placed in the most effective special education program for their children by doing one of two things. If their child hasn't already been placed they can request to visit the classrooms that the school is recommending that their child be placed in. They can then go and see for themselves if the environment, if the teaching instruction is what they're looking for and if they feel that their children would benefit from that type of program placement. If the child has already been placed in a particular program and the parent is questioning the placement, the parent should go and visit that classroom themselves and see how their child is performing, as well as requesting to see other programs in other classrooms to see if their child would be better off in those programs.
What factors are considered when developing an IEP?
The factors that are considered in developing an IEP are the student's strengths, the student's needs, the student's behaviour, reports from teachers that the student has had in the past, parental input. Basically anyone that knows the child and has something to contribute is all factored in developing the individualized education plan (IEP).
Who determines whether or not my child is eligible for an IEP?
Eligibility for special education through the IEP process is determined by the initial IEP team that has been gathered to asses that child's eligibility for special education services. Every team and every member of the IEP must be in consensus at the end of the team before an IEP can be written and implemented in the next year. If one member of the team is not in consent, then there is no IEP, for that IEP does not take place.
What happens once my child is deemed eligible for special education?
After your child has been identified as being eligible for special education support and services, once again the program placement will be decided upon at the initial IEP team meeting. Every member of the team must be in consensus as to what type of program, what type of class environment, what type of strategies, accommodations and modifications your child will need to be successful in the upcoming year.
What occurs during an IEP meeting?
During an IEP meeting, all members invited present their findings, their comments, and their concerns on the child in question. The information is then taken and used to decide if the student is eligible, and if so what type of program would best benefit and help that child to achieve success in their academically lacking areas.
How can I assess my child's special education program?
Parents that would like to ensure that their child's needs are being met in their special education programs, should get involved. They should contact their children's teachers both in special education and general education often. Parents should provide multiple ways for teachers to get hold of parents through phone numbers, cell phones and emails, as opposed to just coming to an annual IEP meeting and showing up once a year. Therefore be as involved as possible.
Do IEPs change over the course of the school year?
The only way a current IEP can be changed is by holding another IEP meeting and changing it. Otherwise, once an IEP has been consented upon and all parties have signed, it is a legal document and all the recommendations and implementations in that document are enforced until the next IEP meeting.
Can I have my child's IEP re-evaluated?
Parents of special needs students can have their children re-evaluated; however, they must request those evaluations of the school themselves. It is always best to make those requests for re-evaluation in writing and hand-deliver those to the proper personnel.
Can special needs students transition to other classes?
Physical and orthopedic impairments or any severe physical disability that prevents a student from successfully accessing the general curriculum.
