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| Home > IDEA > IEP Roadmap: What You Need to Know About IEPs, IEP Teams and IEP Meetings |
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IEP Roadmap: When Congress reauthorized the Individuals with Disabiities Education Act, they made significant changes to Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) and IEP meetings. These changes included:
Use this article as your roadmap to IEPs and IEP meetings. Content of IEPs Present Levels of Performance When Congress reauthorized in IDEA, they required that the child's IEP include a statement of the child's present levels of academic achievement and functional performance from objective data in tests and assessments. Annual Goals IEPs must include a statement of measurable annual goals, including academic and functional goals. Educational Progress Special Education and Related Services The IDEA includes language about research-based instruction. The child's IEP must include a statement of the special education and related services and supplementary aids and services, based on peer-reviewed research (to the extent practicable) that the school will provide and a statement of program modifications and supports for school personnel. Accommodations and Alternate Assessments The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act includes new language about individual appropriate accommodations on state and district testing and requirements for alternate assessments. "... a statement of any individual appropriate accommodations that are necessary to measure the academic achievement and functional
performance of the child on State and districtwide assessments ... " "... if the IEP Team determines that the child shall take an alternate assessment on a particular State or districtwide assessment of student achievement, a statement of why the child cannot participate in the regular assessment ... and why ... the particular alternate assessment selected is appropriate for the child." Transition "appropriate measurable postsecondary goals based upon age appropriate transition assessments related to training, education, employment and independent
living skills" and transition services (including courses of study) the child needs to reaching these goals. When IEP Team Members May be Excused from Meetings A member of the child's IEP team may be excused from attending an IEP
meeting if the member's area of the curriculum or service will not
be discussed or modified and if the parent and school agree.
Developing the IEP In developing the child's IEP, the IEP team shall consider: The IEP team shall consider special factors for children: Parents are key members of the team that decides the child's placement. The placement decision cannot be made until after the IEP team, including the parent, reaches consensus about the child's needs, program, and goals. Although
the law is clear on this issue, the child's "label" often drives decisions about services and placement, leading to school personnel to determine the child's placement without receiving parent input and before the IEP meeting.
These unilateral actions prevent parents from "meaningful participation" in making educational decisions for their child. Reviewing and Revising IEPs The IEP must be reviewed at least once a year to determine if the child
is achieving the annual goals. The IEP team must revise the IEP to address: Revising the IEP by Agreement, Without an IEP Meeting If the parent and school agree to amend or modify the IEP,
they may revise the IEP by agreement without convening an IEP meeting.
Alternative
Ways to Participate in Meetings School meetings do not have to be face-to-face. IEP and placement meetings, mediation meetings, and due process (IEP) resolution sessions may
be convened by conference calls or videoconferences. In-State and Out-of State Transfers If a child transfers to a school district in the same state, the receiving district must provide comparable services to those in the sending district's IEP until they develop and implement a new IEP. Read more What You Need to Know About IDEA articles. IDEA at Wrightslaw will help you find answers to your questions. How the site is currently organized: Wrightslaw: All About IEPs
Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Edition Both books are available in three formats:
Wrightslaw: Special Education Law, 2nd Editionis designed to meet the needs of parents, teachers, advocates, attorneys, related services providers, school psychologists, administrators, college professors, hearing officers, and employees of district and state departments of education.
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