Acronyms & Terms
A legal document mandated by IDEA that defines the individualized goals of a child who has been found to have a disability, as defined by federal regulations. [20 U.S.C. 1401 and 1412; A.R.S. § 15-761(11)]
What is an "Individualized Education Program" (IEP)
This is 7 business days after a meeting is held. This includes a printed and initialed "Audit Sheet" and completed Signature page(s).
What is the deadline for turning in all IEP/MET paperwork?
This is a Federal law that protects the privacy of student education records and gives parents certain rights with respect to their children's education records.
What is the "Family Educational Rights & Privacy Act" (FERPA)?
One of many tasks completed by the SPED Office in order to meet State Compliance for the purpose of updating documentation, obtaining Permissions, Review existing data & more with the families of SPED students.
What is SPED scheduling? * Approx. 951 anticipated for 24-25 SY. = 356 IEP meetings, 240 MET meetings, 120+ Psych evaluations, 235 Child Find meetings.
I can send a Signature page to the SPED office without everyone's signature.
FALSE! The expectation is for all Case Manager's to obtain ALL "Medicaid required" signatures BEFORE sending to the SPED Office. (exceptions are considered ONLY for Virtual/Remote Providers)
The federal law that governs how states and public agencies provide early intervention, special education, and related services to students with disabilities.
What is "Individuals with Disabilities Education Act" (IDEA)
where Case Managers & Service Providers are required to indicate attendance & confirm participation the same day which a meeting is held, otherwise, additional steps must be taken by the Case Manager.
What is an Electronic Signature?
IDEA require schools to notify parents that an IEP meeting will take place using this communication and must indicate the purpose, time, and location of the meeting, and who will be in attendance. [34 C.F.R. § 300.322(b)]
What is a "Meeting Notice"?
These typically accompany a student's report card and is a way to measure forward movement towards a students IEP goals and objectives. In a single quarter during the 23-24 SY, there were approx. 1,180 submitted.
What are Progress Reports?
I am able to edit an IEP in leu of creating an Addendum as long as the correction was a topic discussed with the parent at the meeting.
TRUE! If a specific item, accommodation, etc. was discussed at the IEP meeting, but was mistakenly not printed, you may edit the current IEP in leu of creating an Addendum (up to 4 weeks after that IEP meeting was held).
A live-in health care facility providing therapy for substance abuse, mental illness, or other behavioral problems.
What is "Residential Treatment Center" (RTC)
It includes all required Supporting Documentation including screenings, work samples, practiced Interventions & Teacher observations. All items are required in order to proceed.
What is a CST Packet?
This document must include: a description of the action proposed or refused by the school; explanation of the actions taken; description of procedures used & sources for the parent to contact to get assistance in understanding the school's decisions.
What is a "Prior Written Notice" (PWN)? [34C.F.R.§300.503(b)(1)–(7)]
These are completed to help determine SPED eligibility. During the 2023-24 SY, more than 133 of these were completed.
What are Psychology Evaluations?
The Eligibility date for a students Transfer MET is always the same date that the Intake meeting was held.
FALSE! The Eligibility date is ALWAYS the last date a team determined a students eligibility which is found on the students MET from their previous school.
A Statewide interagency system of early intervention services for families of children birth to three with disabilities or developmental delays and governed by Part C of IDEA.
What is "Arizona Early Intervention Program" (AzEIP)
This, along with other various communication methods, is the Case Manager's responsibility in order to confirm parent participation either the day-before or the day-of a meeting.
What is a Parent "Reminder" Call?
is a combination of impairments which causes such severe educational needs that they cannot be accommodated in SPED programs solely for one of the impairments but must co-exist with two or more of the following categories: HI, MOID, OI, VI, ED, MIID.
What is "Multiple Disabilities"? [34 C.F.R. § 300.8(c)(7)]
this is the QMP which assists in the academic portion of the evaluation. They are also able to provide a diagnosis for Autism Spectrum disorders, Emotional disabilities, ADHD, anxiety, depression and PTSD.
What is a School Psychologist?
Schools are required to give a parent no less than 10-days advance notice before scheduling an IEP meeting.
FALSE! There is no such requirement in the (IDEA). The regulations state that a school “must take steps to ensure that parents are afforded the opportunity to participate and schedule the meeting at a mutually agreed time and place.” [34 C.F.R. § 300.322(a)(1)and(2)]
The opportunity for students with disabilities to be educated with nondisabled peers to the greatest extent appropriate that provides access to the general curriculum or any other program that nondisabled peers would be able to access.
What is "Least Restrictive Environment" (LRE)
These services are listed on BOTH the "Medicaid Services" (Form I2) page as well as the "PLAAFP 4-5" (Form B) & preferred verbiage should be used in the PLAAFP for auditing purposed.
What is "Activities of Daily Living" (ADL)?
This determination is made by a group of qualified professionals along with the parent. No single individual (Medical doctor, Psychologist, Teacher, Service Provider, School Administrator, or Parent) can determine alone but must be discussed as a Team.
What is SPED Eligibility?
These are provisions made to allow a student to access the GenEd curriculum and demonstrate learning but do not substantially change the instructional level, the content or the performance criteria, but are made in order to provide a student equal access to learning.
What are "Accommodations"?
Schools are not always required to conduct evaluations or reevaluations upon parental requests.
TRUE! According to the (IDEA), a parent or school may initiate the eval process. However, if a school has no basis for suspecting a student has a disability, it is not required to conduct an Initial Eval. In this event, it is discussed at a 1st MET and explained in the PWN. [34 C.F.R. § 300.503(a)(2)]