My child has a referral for special education at their school. Now what? The IEP process can feel daunting and scary. But it doesn’t have to be! In this blog post, we are going to chat about what you can expect when it comes to referrals, qualifying, and special education services IEPs.
What is IEP for students?
IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan. IEPs are specialized plans created by a designated committee (called an IEP committee or ARD committee). These plans are designed to implement strategies and create success in school for children with special needs. Under IDEA (individuals with disabilities education act) there are 13 disability categories to qualify for special education.
Individualized Education Plan vs 504 plan (IEP vs 504)
What’s the difference between a 504 and IEP?
IEPs are specialized plans created for students with disabilities that qualify for special education services. 504 plans are created by a team of people familiar with the student and understand evaluation data and optional services.
While there are distinct differences, both generally include specific accommodations, supports, or services. Additionally, they name the individual providing the services and the individual responsible for implementing the plan.
You can find a full list of IEP vs 504 in this guide to the IEP Process.
What is the IEP Process?
When a child receives an IEP referral, there is an opportunity for Special Education services to benefit the student. Here are a few ways your child becomes qualified to receive special education services. Determining qualification is referred to as the IEP referral process.
Parent Referral: the parent/guardian contacts the school district and requests an evaluation for your child.
Teacher/School Personnel Referral: teacher or school personnel see a potential need for additional support or services for a student and begins the referral process.
Child Find: Child Find is a federal law in the IDEA that all children needing special education services are to be identified, located, and evaluated.
IEP Meeting:
The school has 30 school days [based on the school district calendar] from the completion of the report to hold your student’s IEP meeting.
When a student qualifies for special education services, their IEP will not be finalized until the IEP meeting. Prior to the meeting, educators and specialists associated with testing the student will gather results, areas of strengths and weaknesses, and create goals. All goals and paperwork are considered “draft form” until the goals and recommendations for the student have been accepted and the IEP is finalized during the IEP meeting. Everyone involved receives a copy of the student’s IEP.
Annual IEP meetings are held at least once per year to discuss progress until your student ages out of school or no longer qualifies for special education services. Additionally, parents/guardians may call a meeting at any time.
Students with IEP
A student’s IEP [plan] includes assessment and evaluation information, goals and objectives for any services, modifications and/or accommodations that the IEP team has deemed appropriate. IEPs also include a schedule of services and the student’s current levels of performance [PLAAFP]. Individualized plans are finalized during the IEP meeting. IEP information is based on evaluation reports, observations from team members, academic data, and parent information. It’s important to keep in mind these decisions are made as a whole. The entire IEP team should work together to create a successful environment for the student to thrive. Each individual involved in the student’s education will receive a copy of their IEP. These plans are reviewed annually with re-evaluations usually occurring every 3 years (unless a student’s needs change before their re-evaluations are due). Meetings can be called for by parents anytime!
If you’re looking for even more information about Special Education IEPs, be sure to check out my user-friendly guide to the IEP! This guide was designed for parents of students with an IEP, teachers of special education students, and anyone new to the process of an IEP; including children with special needs going to school for the first time.
I’m so glad you’re here! Don’t forget to join the neighborhood to receive all things early communication!
Disclaimer:
This post provides an overview of the IEP process. In no way is the information a substitute for the legal paperwork and procedures that take place during the initiation and continuation of a student’s IEP within their school district. Each state and district carry its own policies and procedures that follow the IDEA. You can find out more by visiting the IDEA website (provided below) and your state’s special education guidelines. You may also contact your local school district’s special education department. In Texas, the IEP process is sometimes referred to as the ARD (admission, review, dismissal) process. For the sake of this blog post, IEP refers to both situations.
Additionally, the information provided in this blog post is based on the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and the Texas Education Agency (TEA). Please be mindful when reading the post that every child is unique and what works for some children doesn’t necessarily work for others. Collaboration between your local school’s special education program and you, the parent/guardian, is incredibly important for your child’s success in the educational setting and beyond. I have also created a how-to parent-friendly guide to the entire IEP process and you can find it here!
