All children deserve the chance to academically succeed. When children struggle with behavioral or learning disorders, it can make their school journey more complex. Navigating the educational system for your child can be especially difficult. Knowing your options to help your child is the best way for them to get the assistance they need.

Individualized Education Plans (IEPs) are vital to ensure children with disabilities get the support they need to academically succeed. This guide will allow you to understand what IEPs are, who is eligible, and how it can greatly benefit your child.

To get started, here is everything you need to know about IEPs:

What are IEPs?

IEPs are Individualized Education Programs. They are designed for students who have disabilities. The legally binding document was created for public school students who need special education.

The document outlines the customized educational goals, accommodations, modifications, and services necessary to meet the individual needs of the student. Its purpose is to customize the right intervention and educational plan that allows the student to succeed in the general education curriculum.

Who is Eligible for an IEP?

Is it vital to know what categories students are found eligible for IEPs under. To qualify, a student must be diagnosed with a disability through testing or by a medical professional and found eligible under one or more of the following categories recognized by the IDEA—or Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The categories include the following:

Autism – A developmental disability that affects communication, behavior, and social interaction.
Deafness – A severe hearing impairment that affects a child's ability to process language through hearing, with or without amplification.
Deaf-Blindness – A combination of hearing and visual impairments that severely affects communication, developmental, and educational needs.
Emotional Disturbance – A condition that affects a child's ability to learn due to emotional or mental health issues, such as anxiety, depression, or schizophrenia.
Hearing Impairment – A hearing loss that is not as severe as deafness but still affects educational performance.
Intellectual Disability – Significantly subaverage intellectual functioning and adaptive behavior that affect learning and development.
Multiple Disabilities – A combination of impairments that causes severe educational challenges and cannot be accommodated by services designed for only one disability.
Orthopedic Impairment – Physical disabilities that affect a child’s educational performance, including impairments caused by congenital anomaly or diseases.
Other Health Impairment (OHI) – A condition that limits strength, vitality, or alertness, such as ADHD, asthma, or epilepsy, and affects educational performance.
Specific Learning Disability (SLD) – A disorder in one or more of the basic psychological processes involved in understanding or using language, such as dyslexia or dyscalculia.
Speech or Language Impairment – A communication disorder such as stuttering, impaired articulation, or voice impairment that affects learning.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) – An acquired brain injury that affects educational performance due to cognitive, social, or physical impairments.
Visual Impairment (including blindness) – An impairment in vision that affects a child's ability to learn, even with correction.

These categories are intended to ensure that children with diverse needs receive appropriate educational services under IDEA.

The IEP Process

The process of receiving and implementing an IEP involves the following steps:

Referral – This process typically begins with a referral for the student to be evaluated. Teachers, parents, and additional school employees can initiate this referral if they suspect the child is struggling with a disability that is affecting their learning capabilities.
Evaluation – With the proper parental consent, the school conducts a comprehensive psycho-educational evaluation to decide if the student does have a disability. They also identify their unique educational needs. This evaluation may include psychological testing, academic assessments, observations, and input from both teachers, counselors, and parents.
Eligibility Determination – Based off of the results of the evaluation, an eligibility meeting is conducted to determine if the student qualifies for special education support and services under IDEA.
IEP Meeting – If the student is eligible, an IEP meeting is conducted. During the meeting, the IEP team—which is comprised of parents, school psychologists, teachers, and additional school personnel—discusses the students strengths, areas of need, and creates customized goals and services to be included in the IEP.
Development of the IEP – The IEP document is developed, revealing the student’s current academic performance levels, measurable annual goals, special education services, modifications, accommodations, and how the progress itself will be measured and analyzed.
Implementation – After the finalization of the IEP document, it is then implemented. The student will begin receiving the detailed support and services they need.
Review and Revision – The IEP must be reviewed and analyzed once annually to keep current. The goals and services must be updated as needed to fit the needs of the student. Parents can additionally request a review at any time if they have concerns with the program or their child’s progress.

How an IEP Benefits Your Child

An IEP offers a variety of important benefits. They support your child’s education and academic success. The benefits of IEPs are as follows:

Personalized Learning – IEPs are tailored to the student’s specific and unique needs. This ensures they receive the individualized instruction and support they require to academically succeed.
Goal Setting – The IEP is comprised of set and measurable goals that are developed to help the student make academic, social, and behavioral progress.
Support Services – The IEP details the special education support and services—speech therapy, counseling, occupational therapy, etc.—that the student will be receiving.
Accommodations and modifications – The IEP details any accommodations and modifications. These can include extended time on tests, preferential seating in the classroom, alterations to the curriculum, and more.
Legal Protections – The IEP additionally details legal protections to ensure your child receives the support and services they are entitled to under IDEA.

Bottom Line

It can be difficult to see your child struggle academically. IEPs were created to help them receive support and special education so they succeed in the general curriculum program.

IEPs can greatly benefit your child as they offer customized and tailored approaches to help them where they need it. They can benefit academically, socially, and behaviorally from the program. These programs can be life changing for students who need the extra assistance. To get started, it is likely that your child will need a psycho-educational evaluation.

Schedule a free consult today to find out the best type of psycho-educational evaluation to get for your child. Also, get a free copy of our eBook on Smart Tips to Prepare Your Child for a Psycho-Educational Evaluation.

The Mind Center, LLC is a thought leadership mental health brand dedicated to helping parents, their kids, and the schools they attend. At The Mind Center LLC, we specialize in psycho-educational evaluation, implementation of IEPs, and offer a range of services to support children. Contact us today.

Understanding IEPs: A Beginner's Guide for Parents