IEP Essentials
This document is a student's legal roadmap for special education services — updated at least once a year.
What is an IEP (Individualized Education Program)?
A teacher adjusts her lesson so some students use visuals, some work with a partner, and some get extra examples. This teaching approach is called ___.
What is Differentiated Instruction (DI)?
OT
What is Occupational Therapy / Occupational Therapist?
A student's IEP says she gets extended time on all tests. You make sure this happens every single time without exception. What type of support are you implementing?
What is an accommodation?
TRUE or FALSE: An accommodation changes the learning goal for the student."
FALSE: an accommodation changes HOW a student accesses learning. The goal stays the same!
This term means every student with a disability has the right to receive a public education at no cost to their family.
What is FAPE (Free Appropriate Public Education)?
You give a student a sentence starter to help them begin writing, then step back as they gain confidence. This temporary support has a construction-themed name.
What is scaffolding?
BIP
What is a Behavior Intervention Plan?
The teacher asks you to put a tally mark every time a student initiates a task independently during a 20-minute lesson. What are you doing?
What is progress monitoring / data collection?
TRUE or FALSE: Paras can decide on their own to give a student fewer assignments if they think it would help."
FALSE: modifications must be approved and documented in the IEP. Never independently!
This section of the IEP describes WHERE a student currently performs academically and functionally, before any goals are written.
What is PLAAFP (Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance)?
A general education teacher and a special education teacher share one classroom, planning and teaching students together."
What is co-teaching?
FBA
What is a Functional Behavior Assessment?
The teacher tells you: 'He only needs to complete 10 of the 30 math problems today.' What type of support is this?
What is a modification?
TRUE or FALSE: A student's IEP must be reviewed and updated at least once every year.
TRUE: annual review is a legal requirement under IDEA.
This legal principle requires students with disabilities to be educated alongside peers without disabilities to the maximum extent appropriate."
What is LRE (Least Restrictive Environment)?
This school-wide framework organizes support into three tiers: whole class, small group, and intensive individual, for ALL students.
What is MTSS (Multi-Tiered System of Supports)?
ESY
What is Extended School Year?
You are supporting a student with a disability in a general education classroom alongside their non-disabled peers. Which IDEA principle does this reflect?"
What is LRE (Least Restrictive Environment)?
TRUE or FALSE: The goal of scaffolding is for students to need that support forever.
FALSE: the goal of scaffolding is independence. Supports should always be faded over time!
This instruction is written directly into the IEP, must be implemented with fidelity, and is tailored specifically to one student's disability-related needs."
What is SDI (Specially Designed Instruction)?
This proactive approach designs instruction to be accessible for ALL learners from the start using multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression.
What is UDL (Universal Design for Learning)?
SLP
What is a Speech-Language Pathologist?
A student shuts down every time directions are given verbally. You start writing the steps on a sticky note for the whole class. What broad teaching approach are you using?"
What is UDL or an inclusive practice? (accept either)
TRUE or FALSE: UDL strategies are only meant for students who have IEPs."
FALSE: UDL is designed for ALL learners. It's proactive and universal, not student-specific!