What Is an IEP?

Note: 
IEP contans numerous goals, some of which can be unrealistic for your child. Unrealistic goals can cause confusion and frustration to your child.

IEP’S BASIC COMPONENTS

One: Current Performance Level

According to the Center for Parent Information & Resources (2017), the first IEP component should be to get a statement about a child's current functional and academic achievement level with a learning disability. At this level, you should explain how their disability affects their progress and involvement in the overall education curriculum. At this level, you should also highlight the child's skills in your areas of concern. Besides discussing the child's progress in the education curriculum, you should also consult their functional performances in other areas of life, such as interpersonal relationships, behavior, and motor skills. Besides your information, the team will require feedback and information from the teachers to determine further their current performance level.

Two: Annual Goals

The second component of the IEP plan should be about your child's annual goals, including academic and functional goals. The Annual goals should update these goals annually depending on the challenges that he is facing. The goals should target improving your child's intellectual and physical functioning. Every goal should be measurable through school evaluations. At the end of the school year, you should have evidence that your child has achieved the set goals or is close to achieving them.

Three: Tracking the Child’s Progress

The team should describe your child’s progress toward meeting the main annual goals at this stage. A good IEP team should explain how it intends to measure your child’s milestones toward meeting the set annual goal (Center for Parent Information & Resources, 2017). This process can be done through feedback reports and regular tests. Through tracking, you also learn how your child responds to the annual strategic goals and the current achievements and failures.

Four: Special Education Services

A good IEP should clearly describe the special education program of your child and how it has been designed to suit his particular need. For example, our special needs programs provide one-on-one aides and special training to our tutors to ensure that your child gets the best possible support.

Five: Service Duration

The IEP should have a projected start and end date for all the services proposed by the team. This includes precise details about service frequency and where they should be delivered. The aim of having a set duration of services is to ensure that all the team members understand where and when the individual program for your child will occur.

Six: Participation in Normal Classes

This component ensures that the faculty and support staff are doing everything possible to ensure that your child is advancing appropriately and learning in a friendly environment. This component also highlights how your child can succeed in a typical classroom through the inclusion policy.

Seven: Testing Accommodations

The IEP plan should determine if your child can participate in regular achievement tests pursued by other kids in standard classes. They should also specify the types of testing accommodations for your child if he participates in regular tests. The accommodations may include the use of distraction-free rooms, wheelchair-accessible classrooms, and extra time. If the IEP team decides that your child should not take a standardized test, you should include the reason behind that decision in your IEP plan.

Eight: Transitional Goals

The IEP plan should help your child in their current and future situations. The plan should include a transition plan when your child reaches 14 years, a time when he could be ready to graduate from lower grade levels. The transitional goals should also focus on support and instruction services to help your child transition from the school environment to a vocational program, a job, or other independent living forms. If your child has a dream to further his study in college, the IEP should create strategies to help them adapt to the environment.

TAKEAWAY:

Contact us to learn more about how your Educational Specialist can be part of your child's IEP team to improve your special child's academic and functional performance.

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References:

* Center for Parent Information & Resources. (2017). Contents of the IEP. Retrieved from https://www.parentcenterhub.org/iepcontents

* U.S. Department of Education. (2019). A Guide to the Individualized Education Program; Archived information. Retrieved from https://www2.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html