If your child qualifies for special education, the next step is to work with the school to create a specific education plan.
- This is called an IEP, or Individualized Education Program.
- The IEP is written for each child and includes their goals and the services to help them reach these goals.
An IEP is an Individualized Education Plan. It's a legal contract between you and the school that describes the specialized instruction support that the school will give your child.
What does an IEP include?
- Your child's goals
- Which specialized services they will get
- How often they will get them
- What school or program your child will be in
- How often they will be out of the regular classroom
- If they will get transportation to and from the school
- If they will get Extended Year Services (EYS)
The IEP Team:
- The school will bring together a group of teachers and specialists who will be involved in your child's education and support services.
- This group, along with you--the parents or guardians--will make up the IEP Team.
- Your child should be part of this team if they are able to and old enough, at least by age 16.
Preparing for the IEP Meeting:
- You will think about your child's needs and your concerns.
- Then you'll come up with a vision of how you see them succeeding over the next few years. This will be part of the IEP.
- The school will use this information to draft an IEP for your child.
- Then you'll have the first IEP meeting to go over the draft and talk about it.
- The whole team will create the IEP together and you have a right to make sure it includes what you want.
Learn more about setting up an IEP
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