Writing a Quality Individualized Education Program

Writing a Quality Individualized Education Program

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Writing a Quality Individualized Education Program

To write an effective IEP, school officials, teachers and parents need to examine the child’s academic results in order to determine whether he/she has a disability, as per the definition of the Individual’s with Disabilities Education Act. After an assessment of all the relevant areas, the results are used to choose the student’s eligibility for special education. However, in case of a disagreement, the parents may seek an independent evaluation (Gibb & Dyches, 2007). Once a child is eligible, an IEP group of professionals is tasked with creating the relevant IEP within 30 days. This is done through scheduling a meeting, whose agenda is the creation of the IEP, and the participants are informed well in advance. At this point, the agreed IEP is written by the members, given consent by the parents and adopted for that particular child.

Similarly, copies of the IEP are distributed to all involved parties, and the school implements it. Thus, any progress is recorded and relayed to the parents to monitor the child’s performance. Another meeting is held to review the IEP and progress made. Furthermore, an additional reevaluation is conducted to assess the child’s continued disability or recovery.

Consequently, many lessons can be drawn from this exercise since one is exposed to the importance of having empathy. It is evident that this is a sensitive activity (Burns, 2006). It also requires widespread consultations and commitment towards facilitating academic excellence of children with disabilities. As such, stakeholders have to be patient in their treatment of the student to avoid exerting undue pressure on him/her. Moreover, the child’s right to give an opinion during the evaluation process has to be adhered to since that would be the only way to guarantee fairness in the creation of the program.

References:

Burns, E. (2006). IEP-2005: Writing and Implementing Individualized Education Programs (IEPs). Charles C. Thomas Publisher Ltd, 2600 First Street, Springfield IL.

Gibb, G., & Dyches, T. (2007). Guide to Writing Quality Individualized Education Programs. Boston: Pearson Education/Allyn and Bacon.