What is an IEP?

IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan. This is a legally binding document that spells out exactly what special education services a child with special needs will receive and why. It will include your child's classification, placement, services such as a one-on-one aide and therapies, academic and behavioral goals, a behavior plan if needed, percentage of time in regular education, and progress reports from teachers and therapists. The individualized part of IEP means that the plan has to be tailored specifically to your child's special needs.

Who qualifies for an IEP?

There are 13 different categories of disabilities under IDEA that qualify for special education services.

   ·   Visual Impairment

   ·   Speech and Language Impairment

   ·   Auditory Impairment

   ·   Deaf/Blind

   ·   Autism

   ·   Developmental Disabilities (mental retardation)

   ·   Multiple Disabilities

   ·   Orthopedic Impairment (Physical)

   ·   Specific Learning Disabilities

  ·   Emotional/Behavior Disorder

   ·   Traumatic Brain Injury

   ·   Multi-sensory Impairment

   ·   Serious Health Impairments

A child who is identified under one of the categories may be eligible for special education services.

The How To’s of an IEP

If your child has special needs or your suspect that your child has a learning disability you can request that an Individualized Educational Plan (IEP) is prepared.

1.     How to obtain an IEP?

• Requesting the IEP - Make a written request for an evaluation.  Address the request to the Principal of the public school of your district. 
• In the request you will indicate your concerns, and the suspected learning disability
• Indicate the type of evaluation your child needs, it must be a neurological and academic evaluation. The evaluation must assess the child in all areas related to the child’s suspected disability.
• You must also consent to the evaluation.
• The evaluation needs to be completed within a reasonable time after the request is made. If you do not receive a reply within 60 days, contact the school and request a response.

2.     What happens after the evaluation is performed?

• Eligibility is decided. A group of qualified professionals and the parents look at the child’s evaluation results. Together, they decide if the child is a "child with a disability," as defined by IDEA.
• Child is found eligible for services. If the child is found to be a "child with a disability," as defined by IDEA, he or she is eligible for special education and related services. Within 30 calendar days after a child is determined eligible, the IEP team must meet to write an IEP for the child.
• The evaluation results will be used to decide the child’s eligibility for special education and related services and to make decisions about an appropriate educational program for the child.
• Parents may ask for a hearing to challenge the eligibility decision. If the parents disagree with the evaluation, they have the right to take their child for an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE). They can ask that the school system pay for this IEE.