- Individualized Education Program
Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a document developed for each public school child who is eligible for special education. The IEP, as defined by federal regulations, determines the individualized objectives of a child who has been found with a disability; and is intended to help children reach educational goals more easily than they otherwise would. The IEP is created through a team effort and reviewed periodically (in Canada and the UK, an equivalent document is called an Individual Education System).
The procedural requirements for development of the IEP are:
- Determination of eligibility for special education (whether the child qualifies for special education services)
- Members of the IEP team (must include; student, student's parent(s)/guardian(s), special education teacher, regular education teacher, representative of the school or district, and an individual who can interpret the instructional implications of eval results)
- Role of the parents (parents are considered to be full and equal members of the IEP team)
- Developing the child's education plan ( IEP team is required to develop an individual education plan to be implemented as soon as possible)
- Determining the appropriate placement (the environment in which the child's IEP can most readily be implemented)
- Acceptance and amendments (IEP is required to be accepted and signed by parent/guardian before any services begin)
- Implementation (implementing all educational services, program modifications or supports)
- Annual review (conducting an annual review to ensure that the student is meeting goals and/or making progress)