Have you ever inherited an IEP? We’ve all been there, and it can be tricky to navigate a new student on your caseload.
So, what should you do first with a new to-you IEP so that you and the student can both be successful? We have broken it down into easy steps so make sure you get the information you need to succeed.
Navigating a New-to-You IEP
Step 1 – Read It
It may sound simple, but the first thing to do when looking at a new IEP is to read it completely. This will help you familiarize yourself with the student’s current levels, goals, objectives, accommodations, and modifications.
Highlight things in the IEP that you’ll want to refer back to later. I am a big fan of color-coding, so I like to highlight different aspects of the document in different colors. It makes it easier for me to organize the information after I’m done reading.
Step 2 – Check the Expiration Date
While you are reading the IEP, check the expiration date. The expiration date of the IEP is, hopefully, not expired by the time you receive it. This can be tricky if a new student has enrolled but brought along an IEP that expired prior to enrollment. If the document is expired, your time frame for creating a new one will be significantly shorter than if the IEP is still active. It’s also good at this point to make a spreadsheet of the important dates associated with the IEP so you can easily keep track of what’s due when.
Step 3 – Check the Services and Placement
Look at the services and placement needs (LRE) of the student to make sure that he is in the right class and receiving the necessary services in the new school. There may be times when your school is not set up to provide certain services, so those will need to be addressed right away.
Step 4 – Look at Accommodations and Modifications
Does the student need a distraction-reduced area to complete work? Are audiobooks a necessity? Pay close attention to the accommodations and modifications listed in the IEP and inform his general education teacher of the things that need to be changed in order to help him.
Using an IEP at a glance (like this editable template) is a great way to disseminate this information to the general ed teacher and specialists who will be working with the student.
- Check out this free Accommodations and Modifications Breakdown Booklet.
Step 5 – Scan for Any Health Issues
Sometimes students will have health issues like allergies or seizures listed in their IEPs that the school nurse, teachers, and support staff should be aware of. Scan through the IEP to see if there is anything that others should be made aware of in regards to the student’s health.
Step 6 – Highlight the Good
Take note of every positive thing mentioned in the IEP. The student is more than what he needs help with and there are plenty of opportunities to help him, but focus on the good – especially if you have yet to meet the child.
Step 7 (or Step 1!) – Meet the Child
Some special education teachers prefer to read the IEP and other documents before meeting the student, but others prefer to meet the child prior to reading anything about him or her. No matter when you do it, meeting the student is as important, if not more so, as reading the documentation that he brought along to the new school.
Getting a new IEP can be overwhelming when you already have a large caseload, but take a deep breath and remember that the student did not ask to have needs that warrant an IEP. You have the power to make a positive, lifelong difference in the child’s life. Use that power wisely and approach each new IEP as an opportunity to make an impact on a child and family.
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