ADHD

Phone: 508-717-4110   Email: neldc.org@gmail.com

 

Understanding Your Child's IEP 

The New England Learning Diagnostic Center focuses on helping kids who have learning or behavior issues.  Debra Lemos, Director of our educatonal advocacy center has been instumental in helping  many parents with kids on IEP's achieve school success.  She has been instrumental in helping students stay in school and graduate as well as getting students  on an IEP who otherwise would have been denied services. 
 
For your child to receive special education services, he must have an Individualized Education Program (IEP). That's the law. The IEP is an important legal document. It spells out your child's learning needs, the services the school will receive, how the educational services will be delivered and what educational specialists will work with your child. 
 
Even if your child is doing poorly in school, he may not receive any special education services, which is why having an educational advocate and an Independent Educational Evaluation is so important.  Unfortunately, many children are found to have learning or behavior difficulties, yet never receive the services to which they are entitled to.  The difference between being on an IEP, can mean the difference between your child attending college or winding up becoming a school failure and dropping out of school.  
 
Before being placed on an IEP, your child may be evaluated, by educational specialists, including the school psychologist, reading and learning disability teacher, and the schools speech and language pathologist.  Your child's parents, classroom teachers and school administrators may also provide input, in the evaluations that take place. 
 
The psychoeducational evaluation one of  the most critical documents in the IEP process, as it spells out the findings and recommendations that can be both behavioral and academic.  The educational specialists that are involved including the school psychologist and special educator often have very large caseloads, and are often given an inadequate amount of time to assess and complete the testing reports.
 
In developing the IEP, your child's teacher, educational specialist and the child parents are involved in creating this document. The entire process is a great way to sort out your child's strengths and weaknesses. Working on the IEP can help you figure out ways to help him succeed in school.
 
Creating an effective IEP often takes time, effort and patience. The more you know about the process, the better you can advocate for your child.
 
What is an IEP?
A federal law called the Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA) requires that public schools create an IEP for every child receiving special education services. Kids from age 3 through high school graduation or a maximum age of 22 (whichever comes first) may be eligible for an IEP.  Many other countries now also provide these services.  
 
The IEP is meant to address each child's unique learning issues and include specific educational goals. It is a legally binding document. The school must provide everything it promises in the IEP.
 
An IEP must include the following:
 
Who qualifies for an IEP?
Your child struggles in math class, and the teacher's interventions'extra help after school, a chance to correct his mistakes'don't help. A scenario like this doesn't make your child eligible for an IEP Two things must happen before a child can get special education services.
 
1.      An evaluation. Parents, teachers, a counselor, a doctor or anyone else who suspects a child is struggling can request an evaluation. The school psychologist and other professionals may give your child various tests. They also may observe your child in the classroom.
 
In many meetings, I have seen guidance counselors, school administrators and teachers tell parents that their child has ADHD and needs to be on meds.  Keep in mind that a physician or another medical professional'not the school'diagnose medical conditions, including ADHD.  School evaluators do not offer medical diagnoses.
 
2. A decision. The IEP team, which includes parents and school officials, decides whether or not your child needs special education services in order to learn the general education curriculum. IDEA says that having any of 13 disabilities may qualify a child for special education. The school and parents review the evaluation and determine whether the results show that your child needs services and supports.
If the IEP team agrees that your child needs services, then the next step is to create an IEP. If your child is found ineligible, you can still try to get services for your child. For instance, you might pursue a 504 plan.
 
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What does an IEP contain?
IEPs are designed to meet kids' unique needs. That means that every IEP will look different. But by law, all IEPs must contain the following elements:
Your child's present levels of educational performance (PLOP): This is a thorough description of your child's current abilities, skills, weaknesses and strengths. It's the part of the IEP that explains how your child's learning issues affect his ability to learn the general education curriculum. PLOP (also sometimes called PLP or PLAAFP) includes details on how your child handles academic subjects and every day or 'functional' activities, like socializing.
PLOP should be based on teacher observations and objective data, like test results. It's important that PLOP is not simply copied 'as is' from one year's IEP to the next. Each year your child matures and masters skills. And each year the work becomes more challenging. So his performance and needs will change.
The results of your child's evaluations and tests: This should include district-wide and state assessments.
Special education and related services to be provided: The IEP spells out what kinds of support and services your child will receive. If your child is going to have speech therapy, for instance, it will say how many minutes a week he will receive this therapy.
 
Accommodations and modifications: These help your child learn the general education curriculum. Accommodations are changes in how a child shows what he has learned. They can help your child work around his learning issues. For example, he may be given extra time on tests.
 
Modifications are changes in what is taught to or expected of a student. Some IEPs have what's called 'modified promotional criteria.' This defines the percentage of grade-level expectations a child must meet to move on to the next grade.
Supplementary aids and services: These are supports to help a child learn in the general education classroom. They might include a one-on-one aide, highlighted classroom notes, equipment or assistive technology, such as software.
Annual educational goals: These should be realistic, achievable and measurable. The IEP lists the academic and functional skills that the IEP team thinks your child can achieve by the end of the year. Annual educational goals should help your child participate in the general education classroom. If your child has multiple or severe disabilities, the law requires that the IEP list short-term goals. These are also called objectives or benchmarks.
 
A description of how your child's progress will be measured and reported to you: By law, the IEP must explain how the school will track your child's progress toward goals. And it must describe how the school will share those results with you.
For instance, one goal might be that your child be able to read at a third-grade level. The IEP will specify how that will be tracked informal and formal assessments, for instance and how often those results will be reported to you. If these interim reports show that your child's progress has stalled, you and the IEP team may discuss new interventions.
 
An explanation of how much your child will participate in general education classes and extracurricular activities: Participation at the fullest level possible is required by law. This is called the least restrictive environment.
The date the IEP will go into effect: Many states have formal timelines for this.
 
Depending on your child's age and situation, his IEP might also include:
A transition plan: This kicks in when your child turns 16. Transition planning includes services and support to help a student graduate from high school and achieve post-high school goals.
Extended school year services: Some students receive special education services outside of the regular school year, such as during the summer or, less commonly, during extended breaks like winter break.
 
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How is the  IEP Developed?
 
Your child's IEP team creates the IEP. Each person on the team plays an important role. By the law, the team includes:
You also have the right to invite others to attend your child's IEP meeting. Be sure to send the school advance written notice of additional attendees. You may find it helpful to invite:
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What kinds of goals are in IEPs?
The law requires that every IEP include annual educational goals for the student. IEP goals need to be specific, realistic and measurable. This is very important because it's how you and the team can tell if your child is making good progress.
'Alex will improve his reading skills' is not a specific or measurable goal. How do you measure his improvement? How much improvement is enough?
 
Here's an example of how to make a specific, realistic and measurable goal: 'Given a second-grade book, Johnathan will be able to read a passage orally at 110-130 wpm (words per minute) with random errors.'
 
The IEP team creates the goals in the meeting. When evaluating goals, you discuss:
 
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What happens at IEP meetings?
 
The law requires the IEP team to review the IEP at least once a year. But the IEP team can meet any time you or the school want a meeting. Many teams meet more often than once a year.
The IEP meeting is key to making sure your child's IEP is working for him. It gives you a chance to discuss with teachers your child's weaknesses and strengths. If your child didn't meet any or all of his goals that quarter, you can hammer out new ways to help your child. That may mean modifying the goal and adjusting expectations. Or it could mean giving your child more or different kinds of services and support.
 
The IEP meeting is when you, teachers and the school give and get input on how your child is doing. You'll discuss what's working, what needs to change, and whether your child is catching up or falling further behind. Your child's feelings and motivations should be included in the conversation, whether or not he attends the IEP meeting.
Here are some other key things you and rest of the team may discuss during the annual IEP review meeting:
During the meeting, the team leader will write a statement about your child's current levels of academic and functional performance (PLOP) and goals. The statement is based on what you and the team have discussed in the meeting. The team leader will also document any changes to the IEP that the team including you have agreed to.
 
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How does an IEP go into effect?
 
The school can't start providing special education services until you give your permission, which the law refers to as 'consent.' You may be asked at the end of the IEP meeting to give your consent to the proposed IEP. (Some states require parents to give written consent, like a signature. Some states don't.)
If you don't feel comfortable making a final decision on the spot, you have the right to take the IEP home to review it. Some schools mail a copy of the proposed IEP to you soon after the meeting and ask for your signature.
If you aren't fully satisfied with the proposed IEP, you have a few options:
It's also important to note that when a school wants to change your child's IEP, the school has to give you what's called 'prior written notice.' For example, if the school wants to reduce your child's services, add to them or change them in any way, it has to tell you ahead of time in writing. Prior written notice gives parents a chance to withdraw their consent and look for ways to resolve the dispute with the school.
 
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What if you have a dispute?
 
There may be a time when you and the school don't see eye to eye and can't talk through your differences. If that happens, IDEA gives parents several options
Here are steps you can take, usually in the order shown:
 
1.  One of the most effective options is to request an Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE) at School Expense.  The New England Learning and Diagnostic Center (NELDC) will provides IEE assessments and will attend the team meetings.  We will also provide an educational advocate. 
 
2.  After obtaining in independent educational evaluation or if you are satisfied with the school evaluations, you may request a mediation session. If the school doesn't automatically offer a mediation session, you can request one. (Be sure to do so in writing.) In this meeting, a mediator helps each party express their positions and understand those of the other parties. The mediator manages the discussion and helps the group reach an agreement. The mediator does not recommend solutions or take sides.
 
3. File a due process complaint. If you're not satisfied with the results of the mediation, you can request a due process hearing by writing an official letter, also called a 'complaint.' A due process hearing is a formal meeting where parents and school officials present arguments and evidence to a hearing officer or administrative law judge. This person is not an employee of the school district.
 
The parents and the district are allowed to bring attorneys and present evidence. (Each state has different procedures; consult your state department of education to find out how to file this complaint and what to include in it.)
 
3. Hold a resolution session before the due process hearing, the school district is required to hold this session. This is a meeting between you, key members of the IEP team and someone authorized to make decisions for the district. You may bring an attorney (at your own expense) but you're not required to. The school district can only bring an attorney if you do.
 
4. File a civil lawsuit. This is the next option if you aren't satisfied with the result of the due process hearing. It's the most extreme option available to parents. It requires that parents hire an attorney and go through extensive legal proceedings.
 
5. When an agreement is reached, get it in writing. However you reach an agreement during mediation, a resolution session or civil suit you need a copy of it in writing. In fact, any changes made to your child's IEP and the steps the school will take need to be documented.
 
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Do private schools have IEPs?
Private schools aren't required by law to provide special education services. If your child is in a private school you can ask the public school district to evaluate your child for special education services. The district is still required to provide the evaluation which will be conducted at no cost to you.  If you disagree with this evaluation, you may still request an independent educational evaluation at school expense.
IDEA requires school districts to set aside some public funding to provide special education services to students in private school. But this funding is limited. If your child's school agrees to work with the district, they may work together to create what's called a 'services plan.' This plan is likely to provide fewer services than your child would receive in a public school.
 
 


New England Learning and Development Center  Dartmouth,  MA | Abu Dhabi, UAE  | Hangzhou, China  | (508) 717-4110

The New England  Learning and Development Center is a non-profit organization, founded by a school psychologist whose son was diagnosed with ADHD.