The IEP Process

IEP stands for Individualized Education Program (alternatively called an “Individualized Education Plan,” “Individual Education Plan,” or some combination of the two). 

The IEP Process Is Comprised Of 5 Steps: 

1. Initial Evaluation Referral – A referral for an assessment can be made by a parent, a teacher, etc. Should be submitted in writing. 

2. Evaluation – After receiving a referral, the school district has 15 days to come up with an Assessment Plan and return it to the parent along with a copy of the parent’s rights and responsibilities. The school must also have signed parental consent before assessing a child. Assessments must be performed by a licensed professional; can include assessments by other professionals. Families must make sure all of their children’s needs are addressed. 

3. Determining Eligibility – If the evaluation shows that the child has a disability and that, because of their disability, they will need special education and related services, they will then meet the criteria for special education and related services. After the Assessment Plan has been signed and returned, the School District has 60 days to complete the assessment, write up a report, and hold an IEP meeting. Families are able to request a copy of the assessment one week prior to the IEP meeting. 

4. IEP Meeting and designing of the Individualized Education Plan – After the child’s evaluation is completed, the IEP team is assembled and the team sits down and comes up with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for the student. Families can bring whoever they want, experts, therapists, professionals that are used to working with the child and are able to provide helpful information in regards to the child’s deficiencies and strengths. The IEP should include an in-depth description of the educational goals, assessment methods, behavioral management plan, and educational performance of a child who requires the special education services.

Also, any modifications that are needed in the regular classroom and any additional special programs or services needed for the child to properly access the curriculum needs be evidently stated. The school needs to have parental input and has to provide appropriate placement based on what the child’s needs are. Families will have the right to visit the classrooms before accepting a placement option. If families are struggling to understand what is being said, they should ask for clarification. When the meeting is concluded, families do not have to sign the IEP right away; they are able to take it home and look it over before they make their final decision. 

5. Implementation of IEP – After the IEP is signed and returned, the School District has 2-3 days for the IEP to be implemented. The written IEP should include your child’s classification, placement, services such as a one-on-one aide and therapies, academic and behavioral goals, a behavior plan (if needed), percentage of time in regular education, and progress reports from teachers and therapists. The school needs to provide said services as they are written in the IEP. 

The first IEP meeting can be a lot to take in for any parent. There is a multitude of new information to learn as you begin to learn more and more about special education services and how they can best benefit your child. If you have attended IEP meetings for your child in the past, then there is a good chance that you have felt overwhelmed, dissatisfied, and upset. 

There are times when conflicts and disputes will come up between the school and the parents when the parties are unable to reach a consensus at the IEP meeting regarding the correct educational approach for the child. The path to obtain the services for your child usually turns negative when the school and the parents reach a stalemate in regards to the agreement of what the proper educational plan should be. A parent then has an opportunity to initiate a Due Process complaint (a lawsuit) against the school district. 

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