IEP (Individualized Education Plan) Overview

Specially Designed Instruction is organized and planned instruction, which adapts to the needs of eligible students. The content and methodology or delivery of instruction addresses the student's unique needs. SDI is designed by a special education teacher. SDI can be delivered by: special education teachers, general education teachers, SLPs, OTs, PTs, and para educators as determined by the student's Individualized Education Program (IEP). Special education staff monitors and evaluates student progress.

Program placement decisions are made in accordance with the concept of educating students with disabilities in the least restrictive environment. Each student has access to an appropriate learning environment and an opportunity for education with typically developing peers to the maximum extent appropriate within their neighborhood school or as close as possible to their neighborhood school. When programming decisions are addressed by the IEP team, consideration must be given to the least restrictive environment.

If a parent/guardian or adult student revokes consent in writing, for the continued provision of special education and related services, the district must honor the revocation and provide the parent with a prior written notice identifying the date the district will stop providing services. The district may not use due process or mediation procedures to challenge the parent's revocation. Beginning the effective date indicated in the prior written notice, the district may no longer provide special education and related services to the student. The district is not required to amend the student's education records to remove references to the student's receipt of special education and related services. Once the revocation is effective, the student is no longer entitled to receive special education or related services, and the district will not be considered in violation of the requirement to provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) available to the student.

By providing written notice of revocation of services, the parent/guardian is acknowledging:

• the district will stop providing special education and related services to the student beginning the date identified in the prior written notice given to them by the district;
• the district cannot use dispute resolution options to challenge their right to terminate special education services for the student;
• the district will no longer be required to conduct reevaluations, convene an IEP team meeting, or develop an IEP for the student;
• the district will not be considered in violation of the requirement to provide a free, appropriate public education (FAPE) available to the student;
• the district is not required to amend the student's education records to remove references to the child's receipt of special education and related services; and
• the student will be subject to all of the same requirements that apply to general education students, such as academics, statewide and district-wide assessments, extracurricular activities, graduation requirements, discipline, and all other general education requirements.

Both state and federal law requires the collection and reporting of student progress toward accomplishing Individualized Education Plan (IEP) goals and objectives.  Evaluation and documentation of student progress is intended to serve three purposes:

1. To measure a student's performance against established IEP goals and objectives
2. To help identify causal factors that account for significant differences between actual and predicted performance
3. To provide a database for adjusting the student's IEP if it does not appear the student will meet the annual goal

Each service provider must collect explicit data on student progress on a regular basis. The provider must develop and maintain a data collection system for monitoring and evaluating student performance, and for measuring progress towards goals and objectives. Keeping a grade book is not sufficient as a data system to reflect progress on goals and objectives.