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USE IN THE CLASSROOM
- WORD WALLS
- GRAPHIC ORGANIZERS
- VISUALS
- AGENDAS
- PLANNERS
- BINDERS
- CHECKLISTS
- ROUTINES
- CONFERENCING
- DIFFERENTIATE YOUR TEACHING STYLE

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TIPS FOR TEACHERS
- WORK WITH THE SPEC ED DEPARTMENT
- WORK WITH THE ELD HEAD
- CREATE A PLAN OF HELP WITH THE STUDENT

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I The Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is a plan or program developed to ensure that a child who has a disability identified under the law and is attending an elementary or secondary educational institution receives specialized instruction and related services.

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Many children who are ELLs are put into English-speaking classrooms where they understand nothing of what they are hearing. In this "sink or swim" situation, many flounder. Imagine traveling to Beijing and taking a social studies course taught only in Mandarin. Learning would be most difficult; yet we expect our ELLs to automatically decode English and succeed academically in an analogous situation.

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For kids to receive special education services, they need an IEP - an Individualized Education Program. If your child has been evaluated, the process of getting an IEP has already begun. But there's still a lot to learn about how the IEP process works and what your role will be.

This guide is designed to help you through every step of your IEP journey. It offers basic information, while also leading you to more detailed information and insights.

The more you know about the purpose of IEPs, the more involved you can be in getting your child the best support possible.

If you just started learning about IEPs, you'll likely hear about many things that are unfamiliar to you. And you'll probably have lots of questions. Who gets an IEP in school? What's the difference between an IEP and a 504 plan? What's the purpose of an IEP?

Having answers to your questions can help you decide if you want to pursue an IEP for your child. It can also help you advocate for your child with more confidence.

The process of getting an IEP for your child can be confusing. It's important to know what happens - and when. The first step is having an evaluation for special education. Then the school must decide whether your child qualifies for services and supports.

How will the school make that decision? What happens if the school decides your child isn't eligible?

If you've never seen an IEP before, the various documents can be hard to decipher. They cover many areas, using terms and information you'll likely have questions about. But all of those pieces - from testing results to goals for progress - add up to the best school program of instruction and supports for your child.

The information in an IEP can give you a deeper understanding of your child's strengths and challenges. And it should lay out exactly how the school plans to help your child improve and build skills.

Your child's special education program kicks off with an IEP meeting. The entire IEP team will be there. You may also hear from professionals at school who were part of the evaluation process. Some might provide services or supports for your child. And that's just the first of many IEP meetings you likely will attend over the course of your child's school years.

IEP meetings can be stressful for some parents. Knowing what happens at IEP meetings can make it easier to navigate them.

The IEP journey continues well after your child's plan is put into place. From here on, you'll play a key role in making sure the plan is working and your child is making progress. But what does that involve? What should you be looking for or asking about?

The IEP will change over time (and your role might as well) along with your child's needs. You'll also be involved in crafting a plan for transitioning out of an IEP toward the end of high school. But you'll still be your child's number-one advocate throughout the school years - and beyond.

Key takeaways

Your child needs an IEP to get special education services at school.

You play a key role throughout the IEP process.

It's important to stay on top of your child's IEP and make sure your child is making progress.

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IEPs in School: Purpose of an IEP and the IEP Process

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IEPs in school: An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written education plan designed to meet a child's learning needs. Learn about the purpose of an IEP and the IEP process in this guide.

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English Language Learners with Learning Disabilities

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Colorín Colorado is a national multimedia project that offers a wealth of bilingual, research-based information, activities, and advice for educators and families of English language learners (ELLs). Colorín Colorado is an educational service of WETA, the flagship public broadcasting station in the nation's capital, and receives major funding from the American Federation of Teachers and National Education Association.

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STUDENTS WHO HAVE LDS AND ARE ELLS HAVE LARGE OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME. IT IS IMPORTANT TO UNDERSTAND THAT THIS IS NOT AN INTELLIGENCE PROBLEM, BUT EXCEPTIONALITIES AND LITERACY CONCERNS.

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What Is an IEP? | Individualized Education Program Explained

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ACCOMMODATIONS ARE SPECIFIC STEPS TO CREATE STUDENT SUCCESS WITHIN THE CLASSROOM.

MODIFICATIONS MEAN ALTERATIONS TO THE ACTUAL CURRICULUM. A TEACHER CANNOT MODIFY THE CURRICULUM WITHOUT AN IEP.

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IMPORTANT FACT: STUDENTS WITH IEPS ARE NOT DISABLED, THEY JUST FUNCTION DIFFERENTLY AND WE USE MORE MEDICALLY DRIVEN TERMINOLOGY AS IT IS THE SYSTEM WE HAVE IN PLACE. IT SHOULD NOT BE CONSIDERED A DEFICIT.