Dr. Karen

What to do in the beginning of the school year if your child has an IEP

Students identified as needing special education intervention have Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). An IEP resembles a packet that outlines your child’s specialized services and goals for the current school year. Special Education is not necessarily a placement such as a smaller classroom (average-sized classrooms range from 25-30 students); it can also be a service.

Thus, students in general education can receive special education services as well. Special education services include (but are not limited to) counseling, speech and language therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, or resource room.

If your child is currently receiving special education, whether it is a service, classroom, or both, you should have received an IEP during the summer. Review the IEP and become familiar with your child’s goals.

Professionals who provide services are usually referred to as service providers. Make an appointment to meet with the classroom teacher and/or service provider to inquire if additional testing will be necessary to assess your child’s progress. Also find out how to help your child practice his/her skills at home.

Some service providers will even give you activities and assignments that can be completed at home. This is important to ensure that these skills are being reinforced and strengthened even when your child is outside of school or the service provider’s office.

Find out when you will be receiving progress reports on your child’s goals.

This is usually distributed on a quarterly basis and may coincide with the school’s marking periods. Your child will have an Annual Review Meeting once a year to review his/her progress and create a plan for the following school year.

Many parents wait until this meeting to decrease, increase, add, or remove services. You don’t have to wait until then to do this. For instance, if your child is having socio-emotional difficulties that’s affecting her academic functioning, do not wait until March to request counseling services. By the time those services are added, your child will be practically out of school!

Instead request a separate meeting as soon as possible to add or change services so that your child has the benefit of getting his/her needs addressed.