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From Chaos to Clarity: Organize Your Child’s IEP Binder Like a Pro

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From Chaos to Clarity: Organize Your Child’s IEP Binder Like a Pro

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Organizing a binder with your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP), evaluation reports, and other paperwork can help you prepare for IEP meetings. The binder can also help you stay up to date on your child's progress and partner with the school. Learn how to make an IEP binder with the steps below.

Watch a video on how to organize an IEP binder

This video explains how to set up your binder and why. Here's what you need to get started:

Put an IEP binder checklist at the very front

Print this IEP binder checklist and put it at the very front of your binder. The checklist has details about what you can put in each of the tabbed sections in your IEP binder.

The checklist has another important purpose: You can update it as you add new paperwork. As your binder grows, this checklist will help you see what you've updated and when.

Label six sections in your IEP binder

Label the tabbed dividers using the same six section names that are on your IEP binder checklist. Here's what to put in these sections and why.

1. Communication

Keep track of important interactions you have with your child's teacher and school. This includes meetings and phone calls. (Scroll down for a school communication log to help you note what was discussed and what was decided.)

This section includes letters and important emails. Put the newest ones on top, behind the communication log. Why keep printed copies of emails? Having a paper version in your binder means you'll have it on hand for meetings. Then you can easily find and reference what was said.

2. Evaluations

Start this section with the request or referral for evaluation. After that, put in your consent to evaluate. Keeping these two documents together can help you see if the school completes the evaluation in a timely manner.

Next comes the school-based evaluation report. (It's handy to have this in the same section as your request for evaluation, so you can match up each request with the evaluation results.) If your child has had a private evaluation, include that here too.

If your child has another school-based evaluation, file it along with the new request or referral and the new consent form. Put this new set of documents on top of the previous set.

3. IEP

It's a good idea to start this section of your IEP binder with a copy of your rights that the school gives you. That's because whenever you go to an IEP meeting, the IEP team will offer another copy. It's important information. But if you show the school that you already have it, you can avoid taking home another big stack of paper!

In this section, file your child's IEP and prior written notice for each meeting related to the IEP. Many schools attach meeting notes to the prior written notice form. Keep those notes here as well as your own notes from the IEP meeting.

The IEP needs to be updated annually. But you may have more than one meeting a year. If changes are made to the IEP, put the newest plan and prior written notice on top, behind the procedural safeguards.

4. Report cards/Progress notes

The federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), says you have to be updated on your child's progress toward meeting IEP goals at least as frequently as you get progress reports on your child's general education. Keep these progress notes and report cards in this section.

5. Sample work

Use this section to file samples of your child's homework or classwork that show signs of progress or concern. It's a good idea to file samples at least monthly. And just like in the other sections of your IEP binder, put the newest papers on top to help you find the most recent information.

6. Behavior

Start this section with a copy of the school's code of conduct. Some teachers may have also provided class-specific behavior plans and rules. Keep copies of these here.

If your child has a behavior intervention plan, file it next in this section. This is also the place to file disciplinary notices, if your child receives any. Why keep these in your IEP binder? Because kids have additional rights and protection if the behavior they're disciplined for could be related to their disability.

Use these downloads to organize key sections

The "Communication" section can be tricky to stay on top of. Use these two downloads to help keep track of it all.

The first download is a school contact sheet. Put it at the front of this section to help you quickly find and reach out to key people with questions or concerns.

The second download goes right behind the school contact list. Use the school communication log to include a brief summary of each interaction you have with the school, including important emails and calls.

In the "Report cards/Progress notes" section, use the IEP goal tracker to keep track of your child's progress. This form can help you monitor your child's progress toward each annual goal in the IEP.

Include a zippered pouch and sticky notes

Since your IEP binder will come to IEP meetings with you, you may want to add a zippered supply pouch. Stocking it with some pens and an extra set of sticky notes means you'll have one less thing to worry about during your IEP meeting.

Why sticky notes? They're a great way to flag key information. Paper clips are good too. Come up with a system that can help you quickly find what you want to discuss with the IEP team.

Learn more

Remember that organizing your child's IEP binder will take some time at first. But once the initial steps are done, it's easy to maintain. Here are more IEP resources you may want to explore:

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Learn how to make an IEP binder for your child. Watch this video to learn what documents you need and what order to put them in to help you track your child's progress and prepare for IEP meetings.

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Check out Season Jackson sharing valuable info about Safe In Home at our April LTF meeting!

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Check out Season Jackson sharing valuable info about Safe In Home at our April LTF meeting!

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Watch Diana Fishlock from our March LTF Meeting Share Information on PA ABLE

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Watch Diana Fishlock from our March LTF Meeting Share Information on PA ABLE

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Complete the question below to view the video

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A Local Task Force (LTF) is a parent support group for parents who have a child with a disability. It is an organization dedicated to learning and sharing ideas as it relates to special education initiatives happening at the local and state levels.

Benefits of an LTF

An LTF can help to enhance collaboration between parents, the school districts, and agencies through a common forum. In working together through the sharing of information and the opportunities for presentations on special education educational initiatives, our children benefit and positive relationships can develop.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns!

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sped services for elk county cameron county mckean county potter county

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early intervention for elk county cameron county mckean county potter county

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jobs in elk county cameron county mckean county potter county pa

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The intermediate unit is an organization through which school districts can work cooperatively to provide services which they cannot afford or prefer not to offer individually. By providing certain services cooperatively, districts can avoid duplication of personnel, building space, instructional materials, and equipment.

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Find out what makes Ben’s presentation so great! Ben loves sharing his life with others. He wants everyone to know about his story with autism and what it takes to be kind no matter what.

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The Local Task Force (LTF) consists of parents united in supporting their children through the special education journey. Our aim is to empower parents through training, sharing resources, and networking, enabling them to collaborate effectively with their Local Education Agency (LEA) in a proactive manner.

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The Special Education Evaluation/IEP Process

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The Special Education Evaluation/IEP Process

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Understanding the Language of Special Education

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Understanding the Language of Special Education

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Student-Led IEP Resource Hub from PaTTAN

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Do you want to learn more about the Student-Led IEP Process (SLIEP)? Keep scrolling to answer who, what, when, where, why,and how YOU can be part of the Student-Led IEP Process! Are you interested in Professional Development or Technical Assistance from PaTTAN about the Student-Led IEP

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Parents' Rights: Understanding the Procedural Safeguards Notice

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Parents' Rights: Understanding the Procedural Safeguards Notice

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Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center

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Parent Education & Advocacy Leadership (PEAL) Center

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HUNE works to improve educational outcomes for children and youth with all disabilities (emotional, learning, mental, and physical) from 0-26 years of age.

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HUNE works to improve educational outcomes for children and youth with all disabilities (emotional, learning, mental, and physical) from 0-26 years of age.

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HUNE is a not for profit organization that provides free bilingual English and Spanish training, technical assistance and individual assistance to families of infants, toddlers, children, and youth with disabilities and to professionals who work with children. This assistance helps families.

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We Are Open and Want to Hear from You A message from Jill Hrinda-Patten, Executive Director I know you have heard this many times before that "we are living in unprecedented, scary times!" And admittedly we

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Contact ConsultLine

ConsultLine is a toll-free information help line for parents and advocates of children with disabilities who have questions or concerns about the education of a school-aged child. ConsultLine specialists answer questions and provide information about special education, gifted education, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

Send a return phone call request. We will call you back between the weekday hours of 8:00 and 4:00. If assistance is needed in a language other than English, please indicate what language in the form below. ConsultLine specialists will provide service to non-English speaking callers through the assistance of a confidential, third party interpreter.

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Contact ConsultLine - Office for Dispute Resolution

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Contact ConsultLine ConsultLine is a toll-free information help line for parents and advocates of children with disabilities who have questions or concerns about the education of a school-aged child. ConsultLine specialists answer questions and provide information about special education, gifted education, and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973.

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Student Led IEP Meetings- For Youth and Families

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Student Led IEP Meetings- For Youth and Families

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Student-Led IEP (SLIEP) Team Meetings: An Introduction for Youth and Families

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National Center on Improving Literacy- Parents & Families

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National Center on Improving Literacy- Parents & Families

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Public libraries are a great resource for your child's literacy learning. They often provide free literacy events, in addition to children's audio and print books. Library staff can help find resources to support your child's learning at home.

Check your local library to see what it offers!

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Parents & Families | National Center on Improving Literacy

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Help your child learn to read and write with practical ideas and expert-approved strategies.

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Check out Sharon Janosik's (PEAL Project Coordinator) presentation on Presuming Competence from our January LTF meeting!

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Check out Sharon Janosik's (PEAL Project Coordinator) presentation on Presuming Competence from our January LTF meeting!

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https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1ItF5m3m_4Vk2wBRMW1fBlHYelMVwj8YX?usp=drive_link

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Complete the following questions to video

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Complete the question below to view the video

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IEP Team Member: Local Educational Agency Representative (LEA)

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IEP Team Member: Local Educational Agency Representative (LEA)

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https://forms.gle/bELp5rvEWHy16BX28

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IEP Team Member: Local Educational Agency Representative (LEA)

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Complete the question below to view the video

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IEP Team Member: Special Education Teacher

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IEP Team Member: Special Education Teacher

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IEP Team Member: Special Education Teacher

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Complete the question below to view the video

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A Local Task Force (LTF) is a parent support group for parents who have a child with a disability. It is an organization dedicated to learning and sharing ideas as it relates to special education initiatives happening at the local and state levels.

Benefits of an LTF

An LTF can help to enhance collaboration between parents, the school districts, and agencies through a common forum. In working together through the sharing of information and the opportunities for presentations on special education educational initiatives, our children benefit and positive relationships can develop.

Please feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns!

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
sped services for elk county cameron county mckean county potter county

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
early intervention for elk county cameron county mckean county potter county

# data[].attributes.attachment_link.keywords[]
jobs in elk county cameron county mckean county potter county pa

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The intermediate unit is an organization through which school districts can work cooperatively to provide services which they cannot afford or prefer not to offer individually. By providing certain services cooperatively, districts can avoid duplication of personnel, building space, instructional materials, and equipment.

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From Chaos to Clarity: Organize Your Child’s IEP Binder Like a Pro

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From Chaos to Clarity: Organize Your Child’s IEP Binder Like a Pro

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Organizing a binder with your child's Individualized Education Program (IEP), evaluation reports, and other paperwork can help you prepare for IEP meetings. The binder can also help you stay up to date on your child's progress and partner with the school. Learn how to make an IEP binder with the steps below.

Watch a video on how to organize an IEP binder

This video explains how to set up your binder and why. Here's what you need to get started:

Put an IEP binder checklist at the very front

Print this IEP binder checklist and put it at the very front of your binder. The checklist has details about what you can put in each of the tabbed sections in your IEP binder.

The checklist has another important purpose: You can update it as you add new paperwork. As your binder grows, this checklist will help you see what you've updated and when.

Label six sections in your IEP binder

Label the tabbed dividers using the same six section names that are on your IEP binder checklist. Here's what to put in these sections and why.

1. Communication

Keep track of important interactions you have with your child's teacher and school. This includes meetings and phone calls. (Scroll down for a school communication log to help you note what was discussed and what was decided.)

This section includes letters and important emails. Put the newest ones on top, behind the communication log. Why keep printed copies of emails? Having a paper version in your binder means you'll have it on hand for meetings. Then you can easily find and reference what was said.

2. Evaluations

Start this section with the request or referral for evaluation. After that, put in your consent to evaluate. Keeping these two documents together can help you see if the school completes the evaluation in a timely manner.

Next comes the school-based evaluation report. (It's handy to have this in the same section as your request for evaluation, so you can match up each request with the evaluation results.) If your child has had a private evaluation, include that here too.

If your child has another school-based evaluation, file it along with the new request or referral and the new consent form. Put this new set of documents on top of the previous set.

3. IEP

It's a good idea to start this section of your IEP binder with a copy of your rights that the school gives you. That's because whenever you go to an IEP meeting, the IEP team will offer another copy. It's important information. But if you show the school that you already have it, you can avoid taking home another big stack of paper!

In this section, file your child's IEP and prior written notice for each meeting related to the IEP. Many schools attach meeting notes to the prior written notice form. Keep those notes here as well as your own notes from the IEP meeting.

The IEP needs to be updated annually. But you may have more than one meeting a year. If changes are made to the IEP, put the newest plan and prior written notice on top, behind the procedural safeguards.

4. Report cards/Progress notes

The federal law, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), says you have to be updated on your child's progress toward meeting IEP goals at least as frequently as you get progress reports on your child's general education. Keep these progress notes and report cards in this section.

5. Sample work

Use this section to file samples of your child's homework or classwork that show signs of progress or concern. It's a good idea to file samples at least monthly. And just like in the other sections of your IEP binder, put the newest papers on top to help you find the most recent information.

6. Behavior

Start this section with a copy of the school's code of conduct. Some teachers may have also provided class-specific behavior plans and rules. Keep copies of these here.

If your child has a behavior intervention plan, file it next in this section. This is also the place to file disciplinary notices, if your child receives any. Why keep these in your IEP binder? Because kids have additional rights and protection if the behavior they're disciplined for could be related to their disability.

Use these downloads to organize key sections

The "Communication" section can be tricky to stay on top of. Use these two downloads to help keep track of it all.

The first download is a school contact sheet. Put it at the front of this section to help you quickly find and reach out to key people with questions or concerns.

The second download goes right behind the school contact list. Use the school communication log to include a brief summary of each interaction you have with the school, including important emails and calls.

In the "Report cards/Progress notes" section, use the IEP goal tracker to keep track of your child's progress. This form can help you monitor your child's progress toward each annual goal in the IEP.

Include a zippered pouch and sticky notes

Since your IEP binder will come to IEP meetings with you, you may want to add a zippered supply pouch. Stocking it with some pens and an extra set of sticky notes means you'll have one less thing to worry about during your IEP meeting.

Why sticky notes? They're a great way to flag key information. Paper clips are good too. Come up with a system that can help you quickly find what you want to discuss with the IEP team.

Learn more

Remember that organizing your child's IEP binder will take some time at first. But once the initial steps are done, it's easy to maintain. Here are more IEP resources you may want to explore:

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Learn how to make an IEP binder for your child. Watch this video to learn what documents you need and what order to put them in to help you track your child's progress and prepare for IEP meetings.