1. Planning together for service
IEP Process
Planning together for service

2. IEP Individualized Education Plan
“A written statement for a child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in a meeting.”
Code of Federal Regulations )

3. Other Service Plans Age 2 and under
Individualized Family Services Plan
IFSP
Child with special needs not qualifying for special education
504 Plan
Rehabilitation Act of 1973

4. Invitation to Meeting Include Location Date Time Purpose
Who is invited?
Any special needs?
Will parent attend?
Wish to reschedule?
Do not wish to attend.
Documentation of Contact

5. Invitation to Meeting Must make at least 3 written attempts
Document each time paper is sent
Follow up with phone call

6. Who comprises the team? The parents of the child
At least 1 regular education teacher of the child (if the child is, or may be, participating in the regular education environment)
At least one special education teacher of the child, or if appropriate, at least one special education provider of the child
An individual who can interpret evaluation
At the discretion of parent or agency, other individuals that have knowledge or expertise regarding the child, including related services personnel as appropriate.
If appropriate, the child
Any representative of the public who –
Is qualified to provide, supervise the provision of, specially designed instruction to meet the unique needs of children with disabilities
Is knowledgeable about the general curriculum; and
Is knowledgeable about the availability of resources of the public agency

7. Exceptions to who can attend meeting
If parents intend to bring an attorney to the IEP meeting, they must let you know. If they come with attorney, you can adjourn and reschedule meeting when your supervisor and possible attorney would be present

8. When are IEP meetings held?
At least once per year (annual review)
When re-evaluation is required (every 3 years)
Anytime new factors occur that need to be addressed

9. Who is responsible for sending notice of meeting?
Varies depending on system
Typically, CASE managers send the notice.
If speech/language is only service, then you would be Case Manager
Remember notices must be send 10 school days prior to meeting (varies by state)

10. Prior Written Notice Reason for meeting Actions proposed Reason
Options
Rejected?
Basis for proposal
Other factors?

11. Parents Perspective Try to make parents feel at ease Do introductions
Make a positive comment about the child
Adjust language level to meet the parents’ needs

12. IEP Meeting: Review evaluation
Screenings
Hearing
Vision
Speech/language
All evaluation procedures
Input from parent/teacher
Evaluation report
Give parents a copy
Any questions?

13. IEP Meeting: Eligibility Determination
Eligibility Date
Evaluation Date
Re-evaluation Date
Meets eligibility standards?
Rule out factors
Lack of instruction
English proficiency
Medical factors?
Screening results
Evaluation results documented?
Involved in evaluation? – sign
Agree with results of evaulation?

14. Eligibility continued
Yes – meets standards and needs special ed
How does “disability” affect educational performance? No
Meets state standards – needs can be met in regular program
Does not meet state standards
Agree or not?
All sign
Received copy of evaluation report?
Parents Sign

15. Annual IEP: Present Levels of Performance
Sources of information
Areas assessed
Date
Exceptional?
Present levels

16. Annual IEP: Consideration of Special Factors
Limited English proficiency?
Blind or visually impaired?
Communication needs?
Speech/Language Therapy?
Deaf or hard of hearing?
Assistive Technology?
Behavior Impede Learning?

17. Goals & Objectives Annual Goal Objectives Custom, from list
Area of need
Personnel/Position Responsible
Annual Goal
Custom, from list
Connected to curriculum when possible
Stated clearly so anyone can understand
Avoid professional language
Objectives
Custom, from list, from bank
Short
Specific
Beginning/ending date
Criteria
Method of evaluation

18. Determination of Program, Placement, & Services
Speech/Language
How many times week
How long will each session be?

19. Signing the IEP Agree/disagree with IEP Informed Parental consent
Date IEP was given to parents
Person responsible for forwarding and explaining
Documentation of IEP review by other teachers

20. Conference Summary Results of evaluation Eligibility determination IEP
What services?
How much time?
Anything else?

21. If Parent does not attend
NO show
Must have record of attempts to contact
Written notices for at least 3 attempts
Send copies of paperwork home for signatures
MUST have parent signature for initial placement**
Parent indicates in writing that they will not be attending
Phone conference?
Send copies home for signatures
Never send originals!!!!!!!!!!!

22. Procedural Safeguards
Special Ed laws, EAHCA and IDEA are civil rights laws
Ensures parental involvement
Safeguards are designed under constitutional principles known as DUE PROCESS of law

23. Procedural Safeguards
Parents have right to review ALL educational records
Participate in all meetings that deal with their child’s identification, evaluation, educational placement, and FAPE provision
If parents are unable to attend, “the public agency shall use other methods to ensure their participation, including individual or conference telephone calls, or video conferencing”
An IEP team can make placement decisions about a student without parents only after several attempts have been made to involve parents.

24. Attempts to contact parent
Attempts must be documented
Detailed records of telephone calls made or attempted and the results of those calls
Copies of correspondence sent to the parents and any responses received
Detailed records of visits made to the parent’s home or place of employment and the results of those visits

25. Independent Educational Evaluation (IEE)
The parents of a child with a disability have the right to obtain an IEE at public expense if they disagree with an evaluation obtained from a public agency.
If parents request that the school pay for the IEE, the district must inform them of the criteria for an acceptable evaluation and recommended service providers.
IF parents obtain a private evaluation that meets criteria, an IEP team must consider results of evaluation as part of the IEP.

26. IEE
Be careful not to give impression that such a requests might not be honored. Such requests must be honored by the school team, and the resulting report must be discussed by the IEP team.
When parents request an IEE, notification of a supervisor/administrator, or program manager is highly advisable

27. Notice Requirements
EVERY time an action is being considered by IEP team members, written notice must be given to parents including:
Parents must receive prior written notice whenever an agency proposes, refuses, or initiates a change regarding:
Identification
Evaluation
Educational placement
Provision of FAPE

28. Notice requirement cont.
The prior written notice must
Be in a language understandable to the general public
Be in the native language of parents or translated orally for them
Describe the action proposed or refused
Explain why the agency is proposing or refusing the action
Describe other options considered and the reasons why these options were rejected
Describe the information used as basis for action
Include any other relevant factors used in making the decision
Include statement that parents have protection under IDEA and if not an initial referral, include how a copy of procedural safeguards can be obtained
Included sources of information to assist parents in understanding IDEA

29. Give Prior Written Notice
When student is initially referred for evaluation to determine eligibility
When student is re-evaluated
When providing notice of an IEP meeting
When filing a due process action

30. Parental Consent
Congress intended that decisions or actions never be taken with regard to a child’s education without parent involvement
To comply, use Consent to Assess Form
If parents refuses to sign, public agency may choose or may be required to pursue a due process action to proceed with evaluation
Re-evluations can be conducted without parental consent IF reasonable steps to obtain these consents have been taken and parents did not respond
Always contact administrator before proceeding with a re-evaluation without parental consent

31. Mediation, Due Process Hearings, and State IDEA Complaints
Due process guarantees civil rights through procedural safeguards designed to protect individual rights
Video clip
Procedural safeguards

32. Behavior and Student Discipline
States have laws in place for disciplining students in special educational
There are “10” FAPE free days in TN
10 days of suspension, in-school suspension, removal from bus, etc. without having to do manifestation determination

33. Behavior
If student gets to the 10 day mark, IEP team must convene and have a “manifestation determination”

34. Manifestation Determination
Designed to ensure that students are not penalized for behavior that is manifested as part of their disability
SLPs have responsibility in this matter…these kids may be on your caseload and you may be the only special education service the child receives

35. Manifestation Determination
Meet and discuss if a student’s behavior with a manifestation of his/her disability
In situations when expulsion is recommended or required (e.g., carrying weapon, possessing drugs), the manifestation review should be conducted immediately, if possible, or no later than 10 school days after the decision ***

36. Manifestation Determination
Review IEP, evaluations, data
Determine if IEP and placement was appropriate in terms of the behavior subject to disciplinary action
If everything has been carried out as described in IEP, then team then determines if the child’s disability impaired his/her ability to understand the impact or consequence of the behavior or to “control the behavior”
If IEP or placement WAS deficient, immediate steps must be in place to remedy those deficiencies ** following behavior plan???

37. Behavior Plans
If you are case manager and a student is getting close to 10 days, may want to have team meeting to discuss the behavior
Recommend FBA?
Include goals in IEP?

38. Behavior Plans
Review Behavior plan template on state website