Acronyms
What does IEP stand for?
Individualized Education Program
What section of the IEP states how is the child currently doing in school and how their disability affects his or her performance in a class?
Present Level
What is assistive technology?
Any device, equipment, or software that helps students learn, communicate, and function better in school. AT ranges from simple tools (like highlighters) to high-tech software (like apps that read text aloud).
What is a transition plan?
This part of the IEP lays out what a teen will learn and do in high school in order to thrive as a young adult. The IEP team and the student develop the plan together before it kicks in at age 14. The transition plan includes goals and activities that are academic and functional. But they extend beyond school to practical life skills and job training.
What is the purpose of an IEP?
The IEP has two general purposes:
(1) to establish measurable annual goals for the child; and
(2) to state the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services that the public or non-public agency will provide to, or on behalf of, the child.
What does FAPE stand for?
Free Appropriate Public Education
Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) is an educational entitlement of all students in the United States, guaranteed by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).
Once a child's needs are identified, the IEP team works to develop appropriate _________ to address those needs. Annual _________ describe what the child is expected to do or learn within a 12-month period.
Goals
What is a behavior intervention plan (BIP)?
A plan designed to proactively teach and reinforce positive behavior. Typically, the plan uses strategies to prevent and address behavior that gets in the way of learning. It may also have supports and aids for the student. A BIP is often included as part of an IEP. To get a BIP, a student must have a functional behavioral assessment.
What is a PLAAFP?
PLAAFP is short for present level of academic achievement and functional performance. A PLAAFP serves as the starting point, or baseline, for the coming year’s IEP. It explains the child’s academic skills (like reading level) and daily life skills (such as the ability to hold a conversation). This plays an important role in setting annual goals for the IEP.
Why is it important to remember the saying "Less is More" during an IEP meeting?
Legal and confidential are the words you should take from this. You could be in court one day defending what you said in an IEP meeting, so make sure to choose your words wisely. IEP meetings are not a time for jokes.
What does LRE stand for?
Least Restrictive Environment
Least Restrictive Environment (LRE) LRE is part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). IDEA says that children who receive special education should learn in the least restrictive environment. This means they should spend as much time as possible with peers who do not receive special education.
To help a child with a disability benefit from special education, he or she may also need extra help in one area or another, such as speaking or moving. What is this additional help is called?
Related Service
A condition recognized by the law. To qualify for an IEP, students must have a disability that falls under one of the 13 categories listed in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Autism
Deaf-blindness
Deafness
Emotional disturbance
Hearing impairment
Intellectual disability
Multiple disabilities
Orthopedic impairment
Other health impairment (includes ADHD)
Specific learning disability (includes dyslexia, dyscalculia, dysgraphia, and other learning differences)
Speech or language impairment
Traumatic brain injury
Visual impairment, including blindness
What is a functional behavior assessment (FBA)?
A process which describes a student’s disruptive behaviors, looks for the reasons behind the behaviors and offers interventions that teach new behaviors to replace the undesired ones.
Should you bring data and work samples to the IEP meeting?
Nothing says you know what you're talking about like data and work samples! Bring the stuff to back up what you are seeing in the classroom!!
What does IDEA stand for?
Individuals with Disabilities Education Act
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act is a four-part piece of American legislation that ensures students with a disability are provided with Free Appropriate Public Education that is tailored to their individual needs.
What is intended to improve children's access to learning and their participation across the spectrum of academic, extracurricular, and nonacademic activities and settings?
What is progress reporting and when should it be completed?
How a school reports on student progress on annual goals. This is specified in the IEP. Progress reporting needs to be provided quarterly and sent home with report cards.
Who is part of the IEP team and what is their purpose?
The team of qualified professionals made up of the parent, special education teacher, interpreter of test data, and district representative at a minimum. This group makes all decisions related to the instructional program of a child with special needs, including placement and services provided.
Should you ask questions during the IEP meeting?
Even though you are an expert, you are not the only expert. Parents most often have the most valuable information about your students. Many IEP team members also include speech therapists, occupational therapists, school counselors, and school psychologists. These people are full of wonderful information, but they can sometimes forget they are talking to people who don't have degrees in their area of expertise. So, ask questions when you don't understand, because if you don't understand, it's likely the parent doesn't either.
What does COMAR stand for?
The Code of Maryland Regulations
The Code of Maryland Regulations, often referred to as COMAR, is the official compilation of all administrative regulations issued by agencies of the state of Maryland. Regulations governing the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) fall under Title 13A.
IDEA requires that students with disabilities take part in state or district-wide _____________. The IEP team must decide if the student needs ____________ in testing or another type of _______________ entirely. In this component of the IEP, the team documents how the student will participate.
Assessment Accommodations
What is due process?
A formal process for resolving disputes about special education and IEPs. Due process isn’t the only way to resolve a dispute. There are other options, like mediation and filing a state complaint.
What is a prior written notice (PWN) ?
Prior written notice is a formal letter the school sends to parents. It’s also a legal right under IDEA. Any time the school district denies, refuses or accepts a parent request for an evaluation or change to special education services, it must give prior written notice. It explains what the school plans to do or refuses to do.
What should you do at the end of an IEP meeting?
Conclude the meeting with a smile. Shake the parent's hand and say, "Thank you for trusting me with your child's education," and add a sincere positive comment about their child.