Depending on the severity of a child’s disability, IEP’s can contain a massive amount of information! Although all of the information on an IEP is important for documentation purposes, there are some parts that need highlighted for proper IEP implementation.

But how do we make sure that teachers get enough information about a student with an IEP without overwhelming them with information?

Enter IEP snapshots! They’re also known as IEP at a Glance or IEP Data Sheet.

IEP snapshots give a condensed version of the entire IEP. Using an IEP snapshot can help teachers quickly reference the essential IEP information they need to know about a child’s IEP.


Information Overload

Depending on your state and the severity of the child’s disability, IEPs can be 50 or more pages long! That’s overwhelming for teachers, especially teachers who are not familiar with IEPs.

In order for teachers to get the information they need, an IEP snapshot is a perfect way to access information without wading through all 50+ legal pages.

As you provide other teachers and team members with a copy of the IEP At A Glance, it’s also good practice to have them sign an acknowledgement receipt verifying they received their copy.  When you join The Intentional IEP, you will have access to this IEP Acknowledgement Receipt resource!

Everyone on the Same Page

A great practice is for a special education teacher to provide each general education and special area teacher with a copy of the IEP snapshot prior to the school year (in addition to a copy of the child’s actual IEP).

By doing so, general education and special area teachers are able to preview the student’s areas of need, classroom accommodations, and supplementary aids and services.

When teachers are armed with information about students with IEPs, and given time to prepare, then they can prepare instruction that is inclusive for kids with IEPs. By giving teachers this information ahead of time, they are more familiar with the student and the student’s needs, and will have an easier time following the IEP.


Check out this snippet from a live training in the TII Membership on explaining IEP’s to general education teachers.

The membership also provides guidance on Having an Organized IEP Process, which can be challenging for anyone! 

You can join The Intentional IEP to gain access to over 150+ different IEP-related trainings, and access to our IEP Goal Bank.  Click the image above to join!


A Chance to Ask Questions

Why You Should Be Using an IEP at a GlanceWhen the special education teacher gives out the IEP snapshots, they should take some time with the general education or special area teacher to see what questions they have.

The student may have an accommodation or modification that the general education teacher is not familiar with, or may have a behavior intervention plan.

By taking the time to talk through the IEP snapshot, the special education teacher is helping to set the general education teacher and the student up for success!


By giving teachers easy-to-access information about the student, they will be more prepared to accommodate that student in their classroom. An IEP snapshot makes important information about the child’s IEP easy to find and easy to understand.

The process of IEP snapshot distribution also opens up the line of communication between the special education teacher and general education teacher. IEP snapshots benefit everyone and help students be more successful!

 

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