IEP: It’s Just An Acronym!

If you’ve ever wondered what an IEP is, here’s a guide to unpacking the process to help everyone involved.

Besides being an acronym used often within the educational setting, what does IEP mean and what does it do? Well, it stands for Individualized Education Plan. An IEP is a written set of goals for a child that is developed in a meeting. If a child has a disability and is falling behind in the educational setting then an IEP is set in place to help them succeed.

If you’re still a little confused it is okay; to better understand an IEP we need to understand where it comes from. In 1975 the Education for All Handicapped Children Act (EHA) was passed which spoke of giving children with disabilities access to a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE). Over the years the EHA has been updated, changing it to the Individuals with Disabilities Education and Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004). The IDEA 2004 as well as its predecessor the EHA apply to children with disabilities.

The IEP is a tool used by the (public) school system in the USA to make sure the IDEA 2004 is implemented with all regulations followed. In order to get your child IEP access they have to be evaluated by your school system showing areas of specific needs in regards to their education.

In All about IEPS: Answers to Frequently asked Questions about IEPS., 2017 (Print), special education is defined as “specially designed instruction, at no cost to the parents, to meet the unique needs of a child with a disability…” Services that special education may include are:

• “Special education services such as an IEP or a 504 Plan”
• “Related services: speech therapy, physical and occupational therapy”
• “Supplementary aids-services and supports your child receives within the general education classes and other settings so your child can be educated with children who are not disabled…”

When to consider an IEP

When your child is having issues in the educational setting (whether it be behavioral, emotional, physical, or mental) an IEP team gets together and sets up a plan. This plan is specific to each child and is designed so that each child can achieve their highest potential.

Inclusion is key. The main goal is trying to keep children within their general educational setting, i.e. their classroom with their nondisabled peers. A future date is set so you may discuss the results of the goals previously set by the IEP team. You will also discuss further action (further action being new goals or a re-try of previous goals set by the IEP team).

Who is involved in an IEP goal setting meeting?

Who is involved in all this goal setting you may wonder? You as a parent and the child (if appropriate), your child’s homeroom teacher, special education teacher, and a representative for the school. Additionally, anyone else who has worked with your child, or has knowledge with regards to the care or education of your child.

Contrary to general perception there are no real “answers” to the IEP. Because it is individualized, each goal is different depending on the needs of the child. Assessments in the areas of academics, development, social, emotional and behavioral skills are done to better determine and help the IEP team in providing a free appropriate public education (FAPE).

When thinking of an IEP do not let the fact that it is an acronym scare you…or the fact that the full title, Individualized Education Plan, is a winded one. Because actually it is just a formal, documented way to cry for help for children who need it.