Individualized Education Program (IEP)

Individualized Education Program Defined

An Individualized Education Program is often referred to as an IEP. The Individualized Education Program lists the special services your child needs, establishes goals that your child is expected to achieve in one year, and objectives or benchmarks to mark progress.

How the Individualized Education Program Works

You will meet with the school staff to plan your child's program at an Individualized Education Program team meeting. (The name of the Individualized Education Program team meeting varies by state.) The team determines what special services are in the Individualized Education Program, the location of those services, and needed modifications. Under the Individualized Education Program, your child will be placed in a LRE—the Least Restrictive Environment appropriate to his or her needs. Placement may be in a regular classroom, unless the Individualized Education Program team determines that your child will not be successful there, even with special additional aids and services.

You Have a Voice In The Individualized Education Program Process

As a parent you are an equal member of the Individualized Education Program team. You have a voice in deciding what services your child will receive and where they will be provided. Once the Individualized Education Program is determined, you must respond to the Individualized Education Program within 30 calendar days of receiving it in one of three ways:

• Accept Individualized Education Program as developed
• Reject Individualized Education Program as developed
• Reject portions of the Individualized Education Program

Individualized Education Program and Due Process Rights

Due process protects the right of parents to have a say in their child's IEP and to take steps to resolve disagreements. Under due process you may request an impartial hearing to resolve issues regarding your child's Individualized Education Program.

Learn More About The Individualized Education Program Process And Strategies You Can Take For Your Special Needs Child

You will find additional information about the Individualized Education Program and special education programs on our web site at http://www.kidsterrain.com. Visit our FAQs pages, suggested reading lists, and our new webinar by Janet Bellizia, called IDEA and The Classroom Teacher. We've created this presentation to help teachers (but relevant to parents of special needs children, too!) understand what IDEA means for educators, and the mandate's function within their classrooms. You will receive tips on how to be proactive for your special needs child, and how to implement instructional strategies to help students gain access to the general curriculum.