What Is an IEP?

Overview

An IEP, is an individualized education plan. It is regularly found in public school systems as well as some private schools.

The IEP  is a written document and serves an education plan for students with exceptional (special) needs and is reviewed at least once a year. It sets goals and expectations for your child’s learning and growth. Parents, caregivers and school district representatives (teachers, occupational therapists, speech therapists, special education teachers and more) participate in the drafting and signing of the document.

Done well (and they often are), an IEP is a fantastic document developed with the input of many professionals all looking to design a program that helps your child progress.

The IEP should explain how your child is doing currently (present level of performance) specific goals for your child to meet, services he/she will receive as well as any accommodations that will help him/her to succeed.

What You Should Know

• A district has 30 days to call an IEP meeting after it has been determined that a student IDEA listed disability. IDEA is the Individual Disability in Education Act
• An IEP must be reviewed every year
• An IEP binds a school district to provide the services and accommodations outlined in the document

Additional Resources

• Video overview of IEP’s from Understood.org (One of our recommended websites)
• Designing SMART IEP Goals
• Government IDEA Website Not easy to navigate, but it has the specific laws for the IDEA act.