An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is mandatory for students with special educational needs in many countries. In the US, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires the creation of an IEP, which defines the special issues facing a student and determines what steps can be taken to give them greater access to learning. The IEP team creates benchmarks to judge current interventions and meets once a year to revise the plan as needed. Compliance with the IEP can drop dramatically in middle school, and parents may have to be their children’s constant advocates.
An Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Program is a mandatory part of the education of people considered to have special educational needs. These programs exist in many countries and technically, when the term ‘plan’ is used, it can refer to special programs in the UK. Program is more commonly used in the US in official literature, but in fact, plan is the most common everyday term for an IEP in the US. An IEP essentially defines the individual nature of the special issues facing a student and determines what steps can be taken to level the playing field and give that student greater access to learning at levels at which the student is capable of learning.
In the US, the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) sets the demand for the creation of an Individualized Education Plan. This is a federal law, which means it applies to all states, and a state cannot fail to comply with its terms. Some funds for any additional support needed by a special education student may be drawn from federal funds, although it has been noted that this is not always the case. At times, individual school districts may incur the additional costs necessary to provide accommodations.
Essentially, once a child is identified as having a minor or major learning disability, which often requires parents to request testing, a school team including parents must come together to determine how best to serve that child. They create an Individualized Education Plan, which is usually immediately put into effect. This plan includes modifications/accommodations to help the child learn better, and these may vary as each plan is tailored to the individual child. For example, some children may need placement in a special class, and others may need occupational therapy, special physical education classes, or speech therapy.
What has been identified as necessary and beneficial for the child is usually provided, although funding can create a problem that precludes some help. At the same time, the Individualized Education Plan team creates benchmarks or targets to judge current interventions. This is a good way to gauge whether more or less accommodation might be needed in the future. Generally, the IEP team meets once a year, revising the plan as needed, but any member of the team, including parents, can call an earlier meeting if needed.
When the Individualized Education Plan is successful, students get the support they need to participate to their fullest capacity in the school environment, with the vast majority participating in regular classes. From a legal standpoint, everyone in the school is required to comply with the IEP, but this can be extremely challenging as children progress through school. Once they have six or more teachers in the middle school, compliance with the Individualized Education Plan can drop dramatically, and it is often up to parents to enforce continued adherence to the plan. Even a teacher can derail a plan, and parents may have to be their children’s constant advocates in this regard.
Another thing that is important to note is that school districts or states may have rules about curriculum modifications in an Individualized Education Plan for middle and high school students. While students may be eligible for accommodations, they cannot graduate if they have modifications. This suggests that a child is seeking something beyond the standard curriculum.
In summary, there are a few things that can be said about the IEP. These are the rights of any child deemed to have a qualifying learning disability. They may change over time and parents have the right to request changes. Parents can also appeal decisions if they feel that the current plan is not appropriate. Each plan is different, designed to meet the needs of each child, and each school, teacher, and other staff member must adhere to the details of the plan. Non-compliance must be reported as this violates federal law.
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