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Video outlining steps involved in forming an IEP

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Video outlining steps involved in forming an IEP

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7 Steps In An IEP Process | Special Education Decoded

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The people involved in developing an IEP

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The people involved in developing an IEP

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Provides information targeted at parents all about the IEP

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Current as of April 2022
In Spanish | En español

When a child receives special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), he or she must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). This is a written document listing, among other things, the special educational services that the child will receive. The IEP is developed by a team that includes the child's parents and school staff.

The IEP is an extremely important document in the educational lives of students with disabilities receiving special education under IDEA. The resources we've listed below will help you learn more about IEPs-what the law requires, what information a typical IEP contains, how IEPs are developed, and so on.

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The Short-and-Sweet IEP Overview
Find out fast what an IEP is, who writes it, and what it contains.

The IEP Team
A child's IEP is developed by a team of individuals that includes key school staff and the child's parents. Find out who's required by law to serve on the team and what they might contribute to developing the IEP.

Contents of the IEP
A child's IEP, by law, must contain specific information, including the special education and related services that he or she will receive. But there's so much more in an IEP! Find out in detail.

When the IEP Team Meets
What goes on at an IEP team meeting? What does IDEA require? What types of considerations, discussions, and decisions must be made by the IEP team? Find out here.

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Current as of April 2022 In Spanish | En español When a child receives special education services under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), he or she must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). This is a written document listing, among other things, the special educational services that the child will receive.

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Roles played by Different Individuals in developing an IEP

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Roles played by Different Individuals in developing an IEP

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The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) states that the following individuals must participate in developing a student's IEP:

The parent(s)

General education teacher (if applicable)

Special education teacher

A representative of the school or district who is qualified to discuss and oversee the IEP, and has knowledge of both the general curriculum and public resources

An individual, such as a therapist, who can interpret the results of assessments

An additional specialist invited by the parent(s) or school, such as an advocate, or a private therapist or specialist (optional)

Remember: An individual on the IEP team can assume more than one of the above roles.
By the time the student turns 16 (or earlier in some states), the IEP meeting must also include:

A transition services representative

The student (especially when post-secondary goals are discussed)

Parents can invite a friend, their Regional Center coordinator, or their Undivided Navigator to provide extra support and insights about the student.

Who can be excused from attending the IEP meeting?

Teachers, school and district representatives, and therapists are not required to attend the meeting if their area of curriculum or expertise are not being discussed, and if both the parents and the school agree in writing to excuse them.

Teachers, school and district representatives, and therapists may also be excused from the meeting if they submit their contributions (such as assessments and goals) to parents and the IEP team prior to the meeting.

What are the primary goals of the key players on an IEP team?

Let's attend a hypothetical IEP meeting for an elementary school-aged child with multiple diagnoses. Who are the attendees and what are their objectives?

The parent(s): The parent is prepared to discuss their concerns. These might include their child's immediate and big-picture strengths, needs, and goals. If they do not agree with the child's present levels or goals, or want to add additional service minutes, they should bring copies of progress reports and their own progress tracking to support their perspective.

General education teacher: Whether your child sees a gen ed teacher for five hours a day or none, the law requires a regular education teacher if the child is, or may be, participating in the regular education environment. Their role is to speak to grade-level content and standards.

Special education teacher: The SpEd teacher is often the teacher best suited to speak to the student's strengths and weaknesses. If the student needs remediation in some areas, the SpEd teacher will be the one responsible for helping the IEP team come up with a plan to address those needs. This teacher might also be responsible for overseeing the implementation of the IEP.

School psychologist: In some schools, the school psychologist is the one responsible for the oversight of the student's IEP. This role includes taking notes on the meeting and making any changes to the actual IEP.

Therapists and specialists: If your child sees the school's occupational, physical, behavioral, vision, or speech therapist, their adapted physical education teacher, or receives tech-based accommodations such as an iPad or AAC device, the corresponding therapist or assistive technology specialist may also attend the meeting to discuss and present their portion of the IEP, including present levels and the goals they've developed for the year.

The principal: In some districts, the principal may attend the IEP meeting as well. They should have knowledge of the types of resources the school can provide, and might also be a former teacher. The principal may also serve as the note-taker during the meeting, and can also mediate disagreements and help make decisions on any changes in the student's schedule or services.

It's a good idea to request that every school-based therapist involved in your child's education attend to discuss their progress and goals.

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IEP Meeting Team Players and Their Roles

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The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) states that certain individuals must participate in developing a student's IEP. Learn more about these roles and responsibilities.

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Provides instruction on how to develop an IEP