INDIVIDUALIZED EDUCATION PROGRAM (IEP)
Each public school child who is eligible for special education and related services must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). Each IEP must be designed for one student and must be a truly individualized document that guides and supports the educational process for a student. The IEP creates an opportunity for teachers, parents, and administrators, related services personnel, and students (when appropriate) to work together to improve educational results for children with disabilities. The IEP is the cornerstone of a quality education for each child with a disability.
Definition taken from the Utah Department of Education website: http://www.ed.gov/parents/needs/speced/iepguide/index.html.
Rules and regulations vary from state to state. The Utah Parent Center has created a handbook – Parents as Partners in the IEP Process; Parent Handbook - fact sheets, and video just for parents! This information provides an overview, information, and suggestions of what you – a parent – can do to prepare to participate in and follow up on IEP meetings and for your important role as an equal member of the team that designs the individualized education or program to meet your child’s needs.
Handbook in English
Click here to view Parents as Partners in the IEP Process; Parent Handbook.
Fact Sheets
IDEA 2004 – Key Issues at a Glance
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) - the main law that impacts services for students with disabilities - was recently reauthorized. We are currently in the process of updating our materials to reflect the changes that were made in the law. The reauthorization has also had an impact on Utah’s Special Education Rules.
Click here to view “IDEA 2004 Key Issues At A Glance”.
Utah State Rules and Regulations
(
http://www.schools.utah.gov/sars/lawsregs/pdfs/finalrules.pdf)
Acronym Lists
As you begin to learn about the IEP process and other services and programs, you will hear many “acronyms” or letters that stand for (represent) a series of words. You will be introduced to the “Special Education Alphabet Soup”. Many services, organizations, programs, and laws are referred to by their acronyms.
Click here to view a document that will help you decipher the “alphabet soup”.
Once you begin the process of working with the school, you will be introduced to new words and new definitions of old words.
Click Here for a glossary of special education terms.
INFORMATION ON PROFILES
Profiles are a way to gather and record information about your child. Following referral and assessment to determine eligibility for special education services and prior to determining placement, the IEP team will meet to design an IEP that will address the needs identified for the individual child. This can be a difficult, very emotional time for parents. However, parents play a vitally important role as IEP team members. They have information about their child that no one else has. The following profiles can be used to assist parents to collect and record information that will be useful in preparing for and sharing information during the IEP meeting.
- Sample Student Profile
- Blank Student Profile
- Blank Child Profile
