Individualized Education Program and Collaboration

Step 1: Before a student can get an IEP, they must have a qualifying condition. There are 14 different qualifying conditions that can be found on the first page. If you think your child might qualify for an IEP, you can request an evaluation. The School District has 60 days to complete the evaluation. Teachers can refer students for an evaluation but they must FIRST try and solve the issue without special education services.

Step 2: After the referral, assessments occur. These assessments could be performance based tests, cognitive based tests or behavioral functioning tests. It's important to note a child CANNOT be evaluated without parent permission. The testing will be conducted by a licensed psychologist.

Step 3: The evaluation team will meet to discuss the results. The parent will be invited to this meeting. As a team with the parent, it will be decided if a student needs an IEP.

Step 4: The IEP will be created at the meeting if the student has been deemed eligible. The IEP is a legally binding document. The IEP will contain:

1). A student's present level of academic performance

2). Placement of Classroom and Services the student will receive

3). Accommodations/Modifications

4). Goals- Goals are created based on where the student currently is and where they should be. Appropriate goals are based on the student's area of growth. Each goal has a benchmark of where the student should be and by what date. Goals effect curriculum design by allowing teachers to focus on where the student is deficit in.

5). Signature page and meeting notes

6). If the child is over 16, they must have a transition plan and goal.

In your IEP meeting, you should expect to see: the parent, special education teacher, general education teacher, school psychologist and related service providers. After the IEP is complete, it is implemented with beginning and ending dates. The IEP is reviewed yearly with progress updates along the way. If the child has caught up to their peers, they may no longer require services. To help understand the IEP process, the families should reach out to the special education teacher or the school psychologist for help.