A mandated part of the education of people who have been deemed to have special education needs is an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) or Program. These programs exist in many countries, and the term “plan” may refer to special education programs in the United Kingdom. Although the term “program” is more commonly used in official documents in the United States, Plan is the more common everyday term for an IEP. An IEP essentially defines the individual nature of a student’s special education issues and determines what steps can be taken to level the playing field and provide this student with the most access to learning at the levels at which they are capable of learning.
The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) in the United States defines the need for an Individualized Education Plan. This is a federal law, which means that it applies to all states and that no state is exempt from its provisions. Although it has been noted that this is not always the case, some funding for any additional support needed by a special ed student may come from federal funds. Additional costs to provide accommodations are sometimes borne by individual school districts.
In essence, once a child has been identified as having minor to major learning disabilities, which usually occurs as a result of a parent’s request for testing, a school team, including the parent, must meet to determine how best to serve that child. They come up with an Individualized Education Plan, which is usually implemented right away. This plan includes modifications/accommodations to help the child learn more effectively, and these can vary depending on the child. Some kids may need to be placed in a special class, while others may need occupational therapy, special PE classes, or speech therapy.
Whatever has been determined to be necessary and beneficial to the child is usually provided, though funding issues can cause some assistance to be delayed. At the same time, the team working on the Individualized Education Plan develops benchmarks or goals against which current interventions can be measured. These are a good way to see if additional or fewer accommodations will be required in the future. The IEP team usually meets once a year to rework the plan as needed, but any team member, including the parents, can call for a meeting sooner if necessary.
When an Individualized Education Plan (IEP) is implemented successfully, students receive the support they need to fully participate in the school environment, with the vast majority of them attending mainstream classes. From a legal standpoint, everyone at the school must follow the IEP, but as children progress through school, this can be extremely difficult. Compliance with the Individualized Education Plan may drop dramatically once they have six or more teachers at the middle school level, and it is often up to parents to demand that the plan be followed. Even a single teacher can derail a plan, so parents may need to be constant advocates for their children.
It’s also worth noting that school districts or states may have rules about curriculum modifications for middle school and high school students on an Individualized Education Plan. While students may be eligible for accommodations, modifications may prevent them from graduating. These indicate that a child is interested in subjects other than those taught in school.
To summarize, there are a few points to make about the IEP. These are the rights of any child who is diagnosed with a learning disability. They can be altered over time, and parents have the right to do so. Parents may also appeal decisions if they believe the plan in place is ineffective. Each plan is unique, tailored to the needs of the individual child, and each school, teacher, and other member of the staff must follow the plan’s guidelines. Failure to comply should be reported because it is against the law in the United States.