Spring is often thought of as Annual Review time. Many school districts conduct meetings for IEP - Individualized Education Program - preparation at this time.
What is important for the parent of the child with a disability to know prior to the Annual Review meeting?
- Annual Reviews are just that – yearly meetings to write a new version of the IEP for a child with a disability.
- Some states are going to multiple year IEPs to cut down on paperwork. This is a trial set up that is a result of IDEA 2004.
- In either case, the law requires that school districts conduct three year re-evaluations for all students with an IEP. The re-evaluation may be a simple review of the child’s progress and discussion of whether or not further testing needs to be done. In other cases, the team agrees that updated test results would be helpful in planning the child’s IEP.
- Annual goals will be included in the IEP. These are to be based on state learning standards. They are to be measurable goals that reflect areas in which the child with a disability struggles. Goals and objectives will not outline every aspect of the child’s education. Of particular concern to educators is No Child Left Behind and how that impacts special education.
- Modifications and accommodations will be written into the IEP. These will be specified for daily class work, routine class tests, and standardized testing. Careful consideration to the needs of the student during standardized testing should be given. The amount of time spent in the general education class will also be discussed. Time with special education services (such as help in the general education class or inclusion in the special education classroom) and support services (speech, occupational therapy, physical therapy, social work) will be decided and documented.
- Parents can ask for consideration of any of the above. The IEP is to be written as a team. If at any time during the course of the year, a parent or the school feels that a meeting is needed to rethink the current IEP, such a meeting will be called.
Read what the U.S. government says about Individualized Education Programs.
The copyright of the article IEP Preparation in Special Needs Parenting is owned by Lynn Moore. Permission to republish IEP Preparation must be granted by the author in writing.
