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7 Essential Components To Create An Effective Individualized Education Program

25th April 2023

An IEP is developed by several people including a team of educators, parents, school district representatives, and other specialists. It outlines the student’s unique learning needs, goals, accommodations, and services required to support their academic success. Keeping that in mind here are 7 major components that you must consider for writing a quality individualized education program (IEP).

7 Elementary Components To Include In An IEP
 

Here is everything that you should include in an IEP:
 

1. Assess Student’s Current Skill Level

   Every IEP begins with an evaluation of the student’s current academic achievement and functional performance. This evaluation considers the student’s strengths and weaknesses, their performance in different subject areas, and their ability to function in non-academic areas such as communication, motor skills, interpersonal relationships, and socialization.

   This evaluation helps the team to determine the student’s unique learning needs and establish appropriate goals and objectives for the student. It might also include anecdotal feedback and information from teachers to further describe a child’s skills.
    

2. Include Measurable Annual Goals

   The IEP should include measurable annual goals that are aligned with the student’s unique learning needs. These goals should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Goals can be academic or functional and should be written in a way that can be measured to determine if they have been achieved.

   The goals should also be challenging but achievable and should be focused on the student's long-term educational objectives.
    

3. Progress Report Tracking

   The IEP should include a plan for progress monitoring and reporting. This plan should outline how the student’s progress toward their annual goals will be measured and reported to the student and their parents. The IEP team should regularly review the student’s progress and make adjustments to the plan as needed.

   This will give you a clear idea of how your child is being evaluated throughout the year and also offer reassurance that you will be kept in the loop for a child's setbacks and achievements.
    

4. Special Education and Related Services

   Special education and related services are the educational support and services that students with disabilities may need to achieve their educational goals. Special education refers to the specialized instruction that students with disabilities require to access the curriculum, while related services are the support services that students need to participate in the school environment.

   These services can include things like speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, or counseling. The IEP should specify the type, frequency, and duration of the special education and related services needed to support the student’s academic success.
    

5. Participation in Statewide Assessments

   All students must participate in mainstream classrooms and there should be opportunities to participate in statewide assessments. The IEP team faculty and support staff must ensure that do everything in their capability to keep a child in the least restrictive environment.

   This part of the IEP generally aims at inclusion and details how a child can join a general classroom environment without any restrictions. It should also specify the time limit for the participation of these students in such classes along with explaining the rationale for such decisions.
    

6. Accommodations and Modifications

   Accommodations and modifications are changes made to the learning environment to ensure that students with disabilities have equal access to the curriculum. Accommodations refer to changes in how instruction is delivered or how students are tested, while modifications refer to changes in the content or skill level of instruction.

   Accommodations and modifications can include things like extended time for tests, preferential seating, simplified language, or alternative forms of assessment. The IEP should clearly identify the accommodations and modifications necessary to support the student’s academic success.
    

7. Transition Services

   Transition services are designed to help students with disabilities make a successful transition from high school to post-secondary education, employment, and independent living. The IEP team should begin to plan for transition services by age 14, or earlier if appropriate.

   Transition services can include things like vocational training, job coaching, and support in developing independent living skills. The IEP should specify the transition services needed to support the student’s long-term goals.

Guide Your Child To Success

A child who learns differently must find it overwhelming to navigate day-to-day school life. However, a carefully designed IEP can identify manageable goals that motivate and reassure the success of a child. Thus, you as educators must understand what to include and why. For starters enroll yourself in Online Special Education Courses to gain relevant insights into the students and their behavior.

Once you have a grasp don't forget to ask questions to the IEP team and hold people accountable for closely monitoring a child's progress. This is because you in many ways captain the IEP proves and your attention to detail can plan a child's success.

Written By: Aditi Ghose