What Belongs in an Individual Education Program

Individual Education Program, or IEP, is a long-range (yearly) planning document for exceptional students used in conjunction with a teachers class plans. Each student has unique needs that must be recognized and planned for in the academic program so he or she can function as effectively as possible. This is where the IEP comes into play. Placement of students may vary depending upon their needs and exceptionalities. A student may be placed in: a regular classroom and receive program modificationsa regular classroom and receive program modifications plus additional support from the special education teachera regular classroom for a part of the day and a special education classroom for the remainder of the daya special education classroom with a variety of direct and indirect support from special education teachers and consultative support staffa treatment program or residential program with complete and ongoing support from a variety of staff. What Should Be in an IEP? Regardless of the placement of the student, an IEP will be in place. The IEP is a working document, which means evaluation comments should be added throughout the year. If something in the IEP isnt working, It should be noted along with suggestions for improvement. The contents of the IEP will vary from state to state and country to country, however, most will require the following: the date the plan will be implemented along with the date the student placement became effectivea signature from the parent and the student, depending on their agethe students exceptionality or multiple exceptionalitieshealth issues, if applicableany equipment used on a regular basis, such as a walker or a feeding chair, other personalized equipment and any equipment that is on loan to the studentpersonnel that may be involved while the IEP is in effect, such as a vision resource specialist or the physio therapistcurricular modifications or accommodationsthe specific amount of support the student will receive, such as if he or she will be in the regular class for physical education, science, social studies, art and music, but a special education room for for language and maththe students strengths and interests, which helps to provide motivation for the studentstandardized assessment results or test scoresacademic functioning along with the date, such as, if the student is in fifth g rade but functioning academically at the second gradeall subject areas requiring modifications or additional supportdetailed goals, expectations and performance standardsstrategies to achieve the goals or expectations IEP Samples, Forms and Information Here are some links to downloadable IEP forms and handouts to give you an idea of how some school districts handle  IEP planning, including blank IEP templates, sample IEPs and information for parents and staff. NYC Department of EducationNew Jersey Department of EducationSan Francisco CASASouth Bend Community School CorporationVirginia Department of EducationWashington Office of Superintendent of Public InstructionWisconsin Department of Public InstructionFamily Village IEPs for Specific Disabilities ADHDAutism/PDDBipolar DisorderChronic IllnessEmotional DisabilitiesLearning DisabilityLearning Disabiled/ADHDMultiple ExceptionalitiesSpecific Learning Disability Lists of Sample Goals Assistive TechnologyDown SyndromeMiscellaneousMiscellaneous Lists of Sample Accommodations ApraxiaMitochondrial Disorder - Middle and High SchoolMitochondrial Disorder - Elementary