The Individual Education Plan (IEP)
How might you describe an IEP?
An IEP is ...
• a written plan describing the special education program and/or services required by a particular student, based on a thorough assessment of the student’s strengths and needs – that is, the strengths and needs that affect the student’s ability to learn and to demonstrate learning
• a record of the particular accommodations2 needed to help the student achieve his or her learning expectations, given the student’s identified learning strengths and needs
• a working document that identifies learning expectations that are modified from the expectations for the age-appropriate grade level in a particular subject or course, as outlined in the Ministry of Education’s curriculum policy document
• a working document that identifies alternative expectations, if required, in program areas not represented in the Ontario curriculum
• a record of the specific knowledge and skills to be assessed and evaluated for the purpose of reporting student achievement of modified and/or alternative expectation
• an accountability tool for the student, the student’s parents, and everyone who has responsibilities under the plan for helping the student meet the stated goals and learning expectations as the student progresses through the Ontario curriculum.
(The individual education plan (IEP): A Resource Guide, 2004)
What is the definition of accommodations?
Specific and individualized instructional, environmental and assessment strategies required for a student to meet curriculum expectations for a grade/course.
What is the definition of modifications/modified IEP programming?
Adjustments to the grade-appropriate curriculum expectations to better fit a student's specific educational needs
Is the following a modification or accommodation? If it is an accommodation state which type of teaching strategy it is.
With a team of teachers, educational workers, parents/guardians and the student, develop an Annual Goal.
modification
What is an IEP not?
• a description of everything that will be taught to the student
• a list of all the teaching strategies used in regular classroom instruction
• a document that records all learning expectations, including those that are not modified from the regular grade level curriculum expectation
• a daily lesson plan.
(The Individual Education Plan (IEP): A Resource Guide, 2004)
Where are a student's accommodations listed and what are they identified as?
In a student's IEP, it is listed as accommodated only (AC)
Where are modifications documented for students?
on a students IEP
Is the following a modification or accommodation? If it is an accommodation state which type of teaching strategy it is.
• Preferential seating (in a specific location to support student’s needs);
accommodation (environmental)
What are the requirements under Ontario Regulation 181/98 (i.e, time-line, committee)?
IEP must be developed for EVERY student who has been identified as exceptional by an Identification, Placement, and Review Committee (IPRC) within 30 days of the student's placement in special education
(Special Education in Ontario, 2017)
What are the 3 categories for teaching strategies accommodations?
Instructional, environmental, assessment
In secondary school how are modifications used to support students?
changing the number and/or complexity of the regular curriculum: modified expectations
Is the following a modification or accommodation? If it is an accommodation state which type of teaching strategy it is.
Determine the assessment strategies for each learning expectation.
modification
What are the 5 phases of the IEP process?
1. gathering information
2. setting the direction
3. developing the IEP as it relates to the student’s special education program and services
4. implementing the IEP
5. reviewing and updating the IEP
(Special Education in Ontario, 2017)
What are 3 strategies that can be used by an educator when implementing accommodations?
- limit accommodations to the most important in each category of instructional, environmental and assessment
- be specific with the accommodations that will best meet the student's learning needs
- set up a system for delivering accommodations (folder for students, separate folder for student's work)
- Make contact with parents/guardians to discuss accommodations
- utilize non-teacher professional reports and recommendations
Explain the process a student might undergo when receiving modifications (modified IEP programming).
An educator will examine a student's previous forms of assessment (including report cards). Then an appropriate grade level of curriculum is established and the student will receive instruction beginning at that level/modification.
Is the following a modification or accommodation? If it is an accommodation state which type of teaching strategy it is.
Extra time for processing information;
accommodation (instructional)