Most children struggle academically at some point. Often, extra tutoring or modified instruction is enough to get the child up to speed. However, some children need intensive, ongoing support in order to learn, retain, and apply their learning.
Under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), children with diagnosed learning or developmental disorders have the right to receive specialized instruction and support. To ensure that schools are meeting their obligations, IDEA requires an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) for all eligible students.
More than 7 million students between pre-K to high-school qualify for an IEP under IDEA. Most of these students have at least one learning disorder or impairment, such as dyslexia or attention deficit disorder. A smaller percentage of recipients have behavior or health-related conditions, such as speech disorders or autism.
IEPs are also suitable for children with mental health conditions, such as bipolar disorder or depression.
If your child has been diagnosed with one of IDEA’s 13 qualifying conditions and needs extra support to thrive in school, he or she may benefit from an IEP.
What is an IEP?
As the name suggests, IEPs are education plans tailored to the needs, strengths, and capacities of an individual student. However, IEPs differ from the learning plans educators traditionally make for their students. Since IEP development is guided by federal and state laws, educators and school administrators must follow specific steps and guidelines during the process.
For example, before the IEP is drafted, the student will need to be assessed by a psychologist or other medical professional. Data from the assessment along with information provided by parents, the student themselves, and educators are used to build the IEP.
IDEA also stipulates that students must receive accommodation in the restrictive environment possible. This means that students should learn in the same environment as their peers to the degree that it is possible. However, if children benefit from one-on-instruction or small groups, this will be incorporated into the IEP.
What Does an IEP Include?
All IEPs have several basic components. Firstly, the file will include a student profile that describes the student’s abilities, limitations, and areas that require support.
Additionally, the student’s current performance level and anticipated outcomes are described clearly. These outcomes are shared with all members of the IEP team, parents, and the student themselves. If you believe that the described outcomes are not aligned with your child’s needs, you can contest the decision.
The IEP also lists the strategies and accommodations educators will use to support the student and enable them to reach the stated academic outcomes. Common accommodations include additional test time, visual or auditory directions, or alternative assignment and test formats.
The IEP also clearly states how progress will be measured, who is responsible for implementing and tracking student outcomes, and where accommodations will be available.
Many schools have adopted cloud-based software designed for progress monitoring in special education and IEP implementation. When educators import student data into this software, the program automatically calculates if a student is on track to reach their learning goals.
Not only does this ensure that schools and educators are meeting IDEA reporting criteria, but educators can leverage real-time tracking to assess if accommodations are achieving the desired effect.
Who Is Involved in an IEP?
IEPs are implemented and delivered by an interdisciplinary team. Team members vary based on the student’s condition, the type of accommodations they require, and the resources available within specific schools.
Most IEP teams include educators, school counselors or psychologists, and special needs teachers. If the child requires support from occupational or physical therapists, they will also be involved in IEP development.
Parents also play an important role. They can suggest accommodations and outcomes that are suitable for their child. If parents feel their child’s needs will not be met appropriately, they can also request changes to drafted IEPs.
IEP teams and parents may meet once a quarter or yearly to review the child’s progress and determine if the IEP needs to be adapted or modified. IEPs are updated every school year to match the academic outcomes for the grade level.
IEPs can also be terminated. Under IDEA, this should occur when the child no longer requires support to progress at the same rate as their peers. States may have their own definition of this stage. However, terminating an IEP requires group consensus, and cannot be based on a single data point, such as improved grades.
How Do IEPs Benefit Students?
While many schools already follow protocols that support students at different ability levels, like multi-level instruction, traditional environments and expectations are still the norm. Some educators may be resistant to implementing accommodations without more data, strategy, or oversight.
The most crucial aspect of an IEP is that the school is legally bound to provide accommodations for a child. IEP plans are also transparent, which helps facilitate collaboration between educators, specialists, and parents.
IEPs also enforce the child’s right to a high-quality education. While accommodations make learning accessible, it does not lower the standards or rigor for the child.
