What is an IEP

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) describes the educational program that has been designed to meet that child's unique needs. Each child who receives special education and related services must have an IEP. Each IEP must be designed for one student and must be a truly individualized document. The IEP creates an opportunity for teachers, parents, school administrators, related services personnel, and students (when age appropriate) to work together to improve educational results for children with disabilities. The IEP is the cornerstone of a quality education for each child with a disability.

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) is a legally binding document. It establishes a plan for an individual student who meets the following eligibility criteria:

1) Is identified as having one or more of the 10 disabilities defined in state and Federal laws. (Which ever law provides the most coverage, is law that is applied.)

2) The student is unable to progress effectively in regular education as a result of the disability.

"Progress effectively" means - making documented growth in the acquisition of knowledge and skills. Including social/emotional development in the general education program according to the following:

• Chronological age and developmental exceptions
• The individual educational potential of the child
• The learning standards in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.

Refer to: Special Education regulation - 28.02(17) - Progress effectively in the general education program. This link will take you to an on-line copy of the regulation.

The following statements are from the 'IEP Process Guide', By Massachusetts Department of Education / June 2001, Page 9, 2nd paragraph:

"Teams sometime struggle in trying to decide if a student is making effective progress and look for specific guidelines to assist in making this important decision. Effective progress, however, is not easily translated to test scores, academic achievement, social skills or other individual or specific variables, but rather is an interrelated measure.
Teams, therefore, should carefully review evaluation data and make student-centered decisions on this important issue."

The DOE has a Flowchart to be used in the Team meeting as an aide for determining if your child meets the criteria of the two question asked above.

It's called the 'Special Education Eligibility Determination' form (ED 1) .