When a California student has certain needs that impact classroom performance, his or her school should provide ways to help that child make appropriate educational progress. Through an Individualized Education Program (IEP), schools can help students with special education needs find success in the classroom. Parents should know what’s in their child’s IEP in order to effectively advocate for them.
Who needs an IEP?
There are many categories of students who may benefit from having an IEP. These are students who have unique academic, physical and social-emotional needs that require special education supports and services. The goal of an IEP is to help students access their educational curriculum so that they can make meaningful progress in school. Students who may need special education services include those who have needs such as:
- Emotional struggles
- Physical limitations
- ADHD
- Visual or speech impairment
- Developmental delays
- Cognitive challenges
- Autism
- Hearing impairment
An IEP should be custom-tailored to the specific and unique needs of the student. The plan may include receiving services from speech therapists, behavior specialists, occupational therapists and counselors to name a few. It may also include provisions for students who require specific accommodations in the classroom, such as extra testing time. A thorough evaluation of the child is the first step in determining what types of support and services he or she needs.
The parents’ rights
Parents have the right to advocate for their children if they are not being provided appropriate supports and services in school. It is helpful for California parents to understand what should be and what is included in their child’s IEP. The more parents know, the better equipped they will be to advocate for their child’s needs.