Chapter 2: Writing and Implementing Effective, Standards-based IEPs

Introduction

Imagine you or someone you know is struggling in school. Consider what happens when a student is not meeting the expected academic, behavioral, or social outcomes. Families and school districts work together as a team to determine and provide support as a way to intervene. If the interventions are unsuccessful, the team then works together to discover why a student is not making expected progress and determine the next steps to enable student success. This process is known as an Individualized Educational Program (IEP).

The purpose of this chapter is to introduce the reader to special education, IEPs, and the functions they serve among various stakeholders. We will discuss IEPs as both a process and a document, including term definitions, connections between the Response to Intervention (RtI) and special education, and connecting all these pieces to grade-level academic standards. Throughout the chapter, you will have opportunities to pause, think, and apply your knowledge. You will also have the opportunity to explore and practice writing various required components of the IEP document.