So you have to write your first IEP. Do you know what an IEP should legally include? Learn about the legal IEP parts below and make sure your students’ IEPs have all of the necessary components!
An IEP or Individualized Education Program is required by law for students who qualify for special education services. The written IEP is a legally binding document that is held to high standards through the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). Each IEP written must conform to the standards set forth by IDEA and contain a specific set of parts to be legally compliant.
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According to the IDEA, an IEP must contain:
A record of the student’s current levels of academic and functional performance must be included as one of the first components in the IEP. It should address how the student’s disability is hindering his progress and growth in the general education curriculum. When including this in an IEP, it should be placed in the Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance (acronyms are PLOP, PLEP, PLAAFP, and probably others) section.
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According to the IDEA, the goals included in an IEP must:
However, as many teachers know, crafting goals that are specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) can be challenging. Doing that for every academic and functional need can also be exceptionally time-consuming.
Did you know?! The Intentional IEP membership comes with over 12,000+ SMART IEP goals, so there’s never a doubt that the goals you include are going to be effective and appropriate for your students. Take it for a test spin with our trial member here.
This section of the IEP should include the specifics of how and how often progress will be monitored on a student’s progress toward the goals outlined in the document. It should include how, how often/when, and how that progress will be reported to the parent/guardian. Typically, this reporting is sent to parents each quarter or semester.
Related services, accommodations, modifications, and service times are typically included in this section of the IEP. According to the IDEA, these related services and aids should be based on research and move the child toward meeting their annual goals. The services and accommodations should also help the student participate with other children with and without disabilities.
There are SO many accommodations that can be provided to help the child be successful in school. You can download this FREE Accommodations and Modifications brochure here, or by clicking the image above.
In other words, this part of the IEP explains how much time the student will receive services throughout the course of the time period and how much time will be spent in a general education classroom setting.
6 – The Start Date of ServicesAs IEPs are very time-sensitive, this section of the document states the date upon which services will begin and the IEP will go into effect. According to the IDEA law, it should also detail “the anticipated frequency, location, and duration of those services and modifications.”
This section of the IEP goes into effect when the child turns 16 (and in some states it might be earlier than age 16). It should include postsecondary goals and transition services that may be needed to help the student reach those goals.
Check out this snippet from a live training inside the TII membership on transition goal writing:
The membership also provides guidance on Having an Organized IEP Process, which can be challenging for anyone!
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The recommended learning placement for the child should be included in the IEP at this point. It may include the general education classroom, the special education classroom, a combination of both, or another appropriate learning environment.
In addition to the components above, all IEPs must also consider:
It can be challenging to keep all of the legally required parts of the IEP in order when creating IEPs. That is why so many veteran special education teachers use templates to create the documents they need. Not only do templates make it faster to write an IEP, but they also ensure that none of the important and legal parts are overlooked. The IEP Toolkit has all of the templates you need to create the most effective IEPs for your students!
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