Navigating an IEP
How to get started with an IEP
What is an IEP?
An IEP is an Individualized Education Plan that outlines the services and supports that a child is eligible for within the academic setting.
What is a 504 plan?
A 504 plan may be recommended instead of an IEP. A 504 plan ensures a child has access to their learning environment while being granted special accommodations, such as extra time to complete their assignments. A 504 does not provide direct services such as speech, occupational therapies, or reading intervention as it relates to the child's special education services.
How do I get an IEP or 504 plan for my child?
An IEP or 504 plan can be requested through either the parent/guardian or through a teacher. If the parent is requesting their child be evaluated, do so in writing so the child can be screened within 30 days by the special education team. The evaluation team will determine which plan will work better for your child and their needs and put the right plan into place for them to reach their full potential.
Child Find.
Typically these plans are put in place by the school systems, however, Child Find can also be a tool in helping get your child school based services. This service is mainly used when looking for services for a pre-school aged student or a student that has recently moved to a new state or county with an IEP or 504 already in place from the previous school system. This will ensure the IEP or 504 transfers over correctly and still gives the student the correct services they need.
https://www.ppmd.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Child-Find-3-21-6.2022.pdf
Expectations of an IEP meeting.
When heading into an IEP meeting you will have a team comprised of multi disciplinary providers such as Special Education, Speech, an IEP chair person, and a general education teacher. The team will go over the child's progress, class room skills and the current goals in the IEP and then propose a new IEP with new goals, additions or subtractions to the accommodations, or an increase to certain therapies such as speech. IEP's are reviewed annually but teams can meet more than once per year if deemed necessary or if the parent/guardian requests a meeting. Reassessments are done once every three years.
Difference between school based and outpatient services.
You can have both school based and outpatient services for your child at the same time. It is highly recommended to have both. School based services "must relate directly to academic success and children need to exhibit a moderate or severe impairment in the area in question." If your child only has a mild impairment, meaning they are having minor difficulty or are not far from age appropriate or "typical" in certain areas but the difficulty cannot be linked to academic success, they would not qualify for the school based services but would for outpatient services.
Check out our podcast!
To learn more about this topic make sure to check out our podcast episode titled "Navigating an IEP" with our very own Christina Ruben, a Speech Language Pathologist with PMC. To listen click the link below!
