LRE? FBA? LMNOP? Anything associated with special education can sound like alphabet soup to the untrained ear, and as special educators we talk in a special lingo – re: acronyms and jargon.
Knowing special education acronyms and jargon is crucial for several reasons, especially for special education teachers, parents, and service providers.
Luckily, we’ve got a handy list of some of the most common special education acronyms (which you can also download for free here).
From the initial referral to the completed IEP, the IEP process can be full of acronyms and legal jargon. Here are some of the most important acronyms that relate to the IEP process.
Functional Behavior Assessment. This process is done prior to the development of an IEP to determine the cause(s) of student behavior.
Prior Written Notice. This notice must be sent to parents prior to any evaluation, change in IEP, or denial of services, and include an explanation and justification.
Behavior Assessment System for Children. This tool is used by a school psychologist to aid in writing an evaluation report on a student. The BASC asks for parent and teacher input.
Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children. This tool is used by a school psychologist for children over the age of 6 to measure cognitive functioning in several different areas.
You can download the free Special Education Acronyms Brochure here or by clicking the image above.
An IEP can contain a massive amount of information, depending on the severity of the child’s disability. You may hear some of these acronyms being thrown around.
Least Restrictive Environment. This means that students with IEPs should spend as much of their day as possible with their same-aged peers. LRE includes the idea that students should not be removed from general education unless their disability is so severe that they cannot learn in a general education environment, even with supplementary aids and services.
Behavior Intervention Plan. This behavior plan is based on the FBA that was conducted on the student. It identifies negative behaviors and how to respond to them in the classroom. A BIP is part of the IEP and must be followed.
Present Levels of Functional and Academic Performance. This section gives a breakdown of the student’s skills in various areas, such as reading, phonics, math, adaptive skills, and writing.
Assistive Technology. This refers to any product, equipment, or systems that enhance learning for a student with disabilities. Assistive Technology can include iPads, communication boards, a sound amplification, pencil grips, closed captioning, and a variety of other devices.
Extended School Year. Not to be confused with summer school, Extended School Year is offered to students with IEPs who may regress during summer break. Students receiving ESY services work on their IEP goals during their ESY service time.
Specially Designed Instruction. Specially designed instruction is instruction that’s tailored to the special ed student. It addresses their IEP goals, accounts for their disability, provides modifications or adaptations to content and encourages actually requires access to the general education curriculum.
Students can qualify for special education under 14 different categories. These are the acronyms for some of the more common disabilities.
Autism Spectrum Disorder. Autism spectrum disorder is a broad term that indicates that a person is having difficulty communicating with, interacting with, and learning from other people. ASD can range from very mild to extremely severe.
Specific Learning Disability. This refers to a student with average or above average cognitive ability who has difficulty in one of more of the following areas: reading, writing, listening, processing, and/or math.
Emotional Disability. Students with emotional disabilities are unable to recognize or control their emotions to the point where it interferes with their learning.
Traumatic Brain Injury. This is a disruption to normal brain function caused by a head injury.
Other Health Impairment. This is an umbrella term for health conditions such as ADHD, epilepsy, or Tourette’s Syndrome that negatively affect learning.
We all know that an IEP is a legal document! Legal terms sometimes include acronyms, such as the ones found below.
Notice of Recommended Educational Placement. This is commonly known as the IEP signature page, and explains the student’s educational placement or program. Parents have the right to disagree with the NOREP. Disagreement will then trigger mediation or a due process hearing.
Family Educational Right to Privacy Act. This protects the privacy of educational records of students.
Free Appropriate Public Education. Every student in the US has the right to a FAPE.
Don’t forget to download your free Special Education Acronyms brochure here.
This is by no means a list of every acronym used in special education. However, these are the most common, and the most important ones that you need to know.
IEP writing shouldn’t feel like guesswork! Inside The Intentional IEP, you’ll get access to the expert-led trainings you should have learned in college—covering everything from data collection to goal writing and implementation. Pair that with 10,000+ pre-written, standards-aligned goals and time-saving resources, and you’ll finally have the clarity and confidence you need to write strong, effective IEPs. Join today and start learning what they didn’t teach you in school!
© The Intentional IEP. 2025. All rights reserved.
