The IEP

The Individualized Education Program, universally referred to as the IEP, is the document created by the Committee on Special Education (CSE) which details every aspect of your child’s special education. It functions much like a travel guide to your child’s journey through the school year, setting out the accommodations your child will receive, the educational goals to be achieved and the methods that will be used to reach those goals.

An IEP will also specify the kind of school setting that your child will have (a regular class with support services, a self-contained classroom, or even a specialized school), the ratio of teachers to students in your child’s class, and the services which your child will receive over the coming school year or other relevant period. A good explanation of the IEP and what it can provide can be found as part of a general discussion of special education on the website of Advocates for Children, which is an excellent source for information about education in New York City.

Another, more comprehensive discussion of the IEP and how it is created can be found on the New York State Department of Education website.

The information on both of these New York City based sites is generally applicable throughout New York State.

The 2004 revisions to the IDEA have included changes to the IEP process. There is a detailed explanation of these changes on the Wrightslaw website, a commercial site which has much useful legal information.

Two aspects of the IEP to keep in mind:

• You, as a parent, are a member of the CSE team that creates the IEP and
• If you believe that the IEP is not appropriate for your child or is not being implemented properly you have the right to challenge the decisions of your school district. The rights available to you are detailed in a booklet created by the New York State Department of Education.