Links Directory
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| Topical Link Collections / Individualized Education Program (IEP) |
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An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a written statement for each child with a disability. The IEP represents, at its heart, the promise of IDEA from the beginning, of the partnership between parents and schools. The 2004 update of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA 2004) made several significant changes to the IEP. This section includes federal guidance, state guidance, information on standards-based IEPs and facilitated IEPs, and annotated and focused links relating to these changes affecting IEPs.
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| Federal Guidance | Local school districts are required to convene an IEP Team meeting that includes school administrators and the child’s parents to: 1) develop an IEP; 2) plan for IEP implementation; and 3) review and revise IEP at least annually, for eligible students prior to providing special education and related services. Therefore, the Office of Special Education Programs developed the documents below in an effort to provide a useful and concise explanation of provisions of IDEA 2004.
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| | State Guidance | IDEA 2004 required states to implement most changes to the IEP in July 2005. Following are some different states' approaches to providing IEP information and forms to their districts.
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| | Facilitated IEPs | Once a child is referred and determined eligible for special education services, the IEP process begins and this can be overwhelming for schools and parents. Thus, it has been suggested that one strategy could be to support training for skilled facilitators to run IEP meetings. This strategy leads parents and schools to reaching agreement on IEPs and positive solutions, therefore avoiding conflict. As a result, some technical assistance organizations and states have developed examples; however, it is important to keep in mind that not all states have adopted this particular strategy.
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| | Standards-based IEPs | States, districts, and schools continue to emphasize the importance of aligning IEPs with state standards in the general education curriculum. Such alignment attempts to ensure that students with disabilities are expected to achieve the same goals as their regular education peers and have the supports and accommodations they need to engage in content-centered learning.
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| | Additional Resources - Annotated and Focused Links | | The sites listed below include general summaries of IDEA 2004, including changes relevant to IEPs; information specifically designed for parents that includes tools parents can use (i.e., checklists, tips) to be involved and active participants in their child’s IEP development and implementation; information on aligning IEPs with state standards to ensure students with disabilities are successful in the general education curriculum; and information on how families can prepare for facilitated IEP meetings, including frequently asked questions about the process. |
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