IEP
An Individual Education Plan is an individualized education plan for children, adolescents, or adults if enrolled in a Special Education Program. An IEP is an important legally binding document—parents/guardians should pay close attention to its development and implementation.
IEPs and ETRs go hand in hand. The IEP is based on the ETR. Our goal is to help families understand special education. We’ll begin with two important documents – the Evaluation Team Report (ETR) and the Individualized Education Program (IEP). These documents should clearly outline your child’s educational background, needs, and goals.
The Evaluation Team Report (ETR), also known as a Multifactored Evaluation (MFE), is a thorough document created by the education team in response to a parent/guardian’s request. It encompasses input and assessments from special education teachers, physical/occupational/speech therapists, school psychologists, and other professionals.
Who qualifies for an IEP?
It should be noted that not all students with a learning disability will receive special education services with an individualized education program (IEP). There are 13 conditions that are covered by the IDEA Individuals with Disabilities Education Act:
- Specific learning disability (such as dyslexia)
- Other health impairments (such as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)
- Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Emotional disturbance (such as depression)
- Speech or language impairment
- Visual impairment, including blindness
- Deafness
- Hearing impairment
- Deaf-blindness
- Orthopedic impairment (such as cerebral palsy)
- Intellectual disability
- Traumatic brain injury
- Multiple disabilities
How often are changes made to an IEP?
The school must review your child’s IEP on a yearly basis to discuss goals, programs, and services. Parents can also request a progress meeting before the yearly review if they have any concerns. Re-evaluation for special education eligibility must be considered by the IEP team every three years.
LeafWing can help identify the essential services needed for your child’s IEP Plan to ensure success in a school setting. Please consult your BCBA for assistance. Additionally, LeafWing Center can provide guidance in achieving the goals outlined in the IEP.
Key points to remember about the IEP
- After the ETR is finished, the IEP team creates a written document called the IEP within 30 days. This document is specifically tailored to address the educational needs of a student with disabilities.
- The IEP serves as a program that outlines the child’s current strengths, needs, present levels, goals, and services.
- Parent/guardian input is gathered when creating the IEP. Other IEP team members include intervention specialists, general education teacher(s), and therapist(s).
- Intervention specialists in the child’s public school district must annually write, present, and finalize IEPs for all qualifying students.
- If your child has an Individualized Education Program (IEP), they also have an Evaluation Team Report (ETR). To obtain a copy of either document, don’t hesitate to get in touch with your local school district and request one. Both the IEP and ETR must be provided to the parent/guardian.
