What Parents Need to Know About IEPs

The Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) is a federal law that protects the rights of students with disabilities to have access to a “free and appropriate public education.” Under IDEA, students who are “adversely affected” by a certain subset of disabilities are eligible for Individualized Education Plans (IEPs), which define a program of instruction that allows them to fully access their education. An IEP is not about putting a “problem” label on your child or stigmatizing them; it’s about establishing a personalized set of supports and resources that meet their individual needs, so they can thrive in school. But getting an IEP, understanding what it means, and making sure it’s actually helping your child can be an overwhelming process.

• An IEP articulates a specific program of instruction and supports to ensure that a student can thrive in school. The plan will include language about your child’s strengths and areas of challenge, their annual goals, and the supports and teacher actions that will help them achieve those goals. This might be things like small group academic support in class; visual aids, graphic organizers, or other tools and resources; additional time for specific tasks; support from a school counselor or psychologist; and much more.

• The process of getting an IEP begins with an evaluation of the student. As a parent, you can request that your child be evaluated for special education services. Public schools must offer these evaluations for free, but you can also opt for a private evaluation if you prefer. Alternatively, your school might suggest that your child be evaluated, but they must obtain your permission before moving forward. This chart from Understood outlines the steps involved in obtaining an IEP.

• Eligibility for an IEP is defined by federal law. Under IDEA, students are eligible for IEPs if they are “adversely affected” by a disability that falls into 13 particular categories. These categories include specific learning disabilities (like dyslexia, dyscalculia, or auditory processing disorder), deafness, visual impairment, traumatic brain injury, autism spectrum disorder, speech and language difficulties, and more. Students who struggle in school for reasons outside of these 13 categories are not eligible for an IEP, but they might still be eligible for a 504 plan, which covers any other exceptionality that interferes with a student’s ability to learn in a general education classroom. (Many things could meet this criteria: for example, attention issues, “gifted or talented” status, or a severe food allergy. Check out this helpful guide to understand the differences between IEPs and 504 plans.) And while the categories defined by IDEA represent a baseline for IEP eligibility, states do have some latitude to expand upon what is included or how it is categorized, and you will be walked through those criteria during an eligibility determination meeting.

• An IEP is written by a team—including parents. Your child’s IEP team will include you as well as several others: most likely their classroom teacher, a special education teacher, an expert related to their disability (like a speech and language therapist or a reading interventionist), a representative from the school district, and a trained interpreter if needed. Together, you will discuss your child’s needs and how to meet them, prior to a teacher or district special education staff member putting these plans in writing. As your child gets older, you may wish to include them in the IEP meetings as well. When they’re over 16, they can be an official member of their IEP team.

• IEPs are legal documents, as well as roadmaps for your child’s school experience. Once written and signed, the IEP is a legally binding document. But it shouldn’t just be a contract that gets tossed in a drawer. The IEP should include enough detail to articulate how your child’s supports will change their daily life at school and improve their experience. If the IEP doesn’t tell you those things, it’s important to ask your child’s teachers.