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The Individualized Education Plan (IEP)

by Robert Needlman, M.D., F.A.A.P.
reviewed by Laura Jana, M.D., F.A.A.P.
The final product of the team assessment process is an Individualized Education Plan (IEP). This document should answer four main questions:
  1. How is the child doing in all aspects of school life (academic, behavioral, social, emotional, physical)?


  2. Considering the child as a whole (medical, cognitive, emotional, social), what services or other interventions does this individual child need in order to reach his full potential in school?


  3. What services and interventions can the school provide to meet these needs? (For example, what special classes or aides are available?)


  4. How will the team monitor the child's progress to make sure the plan is working?

The federal IDEA law includes very specific regulations about what has to be in the IEP. If you are going to go through the process, read as much as you can about this. A good place to start on the Internet is Federal Office of Special Education Programs.

As the parent, you play a key role in this process. By law, the process cannot go ahead without you. You need to understand the IEP and sign it. If you don't agree, the IEP can't be put into practice.

The IEP is supposed to be reviewed annually and renewed as needed. The IDEA law says that you, as a parent, have the right to request a review of the IEP any time you feel that your child's needs are not being met. Practically, however, schools-assessment teams tend to be very busy, and you may have to wait a long time to have your child's case reviewed or have to be very insistent and persuasive.

Working with the schools
Ideally, you and the schools should be one team, working together on behalf of your child. Sometimes, however, you may not see eye to eye with a particular teacher or school administrator, or you may feel that the whole process is not working for you.

If that happens, a good place to go is the local branch of one of the national organizations for parents of children with learning or other disabilities.

Here are two good resources to get you started.
LD Online Resource Page (excellent!)

Learning Disabilities of America
 RELATED INFORMATION
*  Getting a Learning-Problems Assessment for Your Child
*  Official Definitions of a Learning Disability and the Assessment Process
*  School Problems


Created September 26, 2000
Reviewed September 28, 2000
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