What do my child’s IEP goals mean?

Important Vocabulary

b.  How to understand the IEP paperwork
The IEP team is made up of: the parents, a general education teacher, a special education teacher, related service providers (OT, PT, Speech, Social work) and a district representative. Each member of this team has important information that will be included in the IEP. Here is a brief guide to the  IEP paperwork used in District 69. If you have more questions, feel free to contact your student’s special education teacher or Speech Language Pathologist.

includes:
Annual Review Date- Every year, the special education team (including the parent) needs to meet to review your child’s goals and current levels of performance.  This review of goals must be completed before this annual review date.  

Triennial Reevaluation Due Date:  Every three years (unless specially discussed with you), the special education team needs to re-assess your child’s progress using standardized assessment tools .  This  review will happen before this triennial review date.

Family Report-  Before an IEP meeting, someone from the school special  education team will send home this information gathering sheet.  It is helpful if you fill out this form with as much information about your child before the meeting.  It is not necessary to type this information, and you can attach extra pages if needed.

Present Levels of Academic Acheivement and Functional Peformance  (PLOP)-  These pages represent how  your child is currently functioning at school.  Various school personnel that work with your child will fill out their respective areas, and the information in this document is used to write goals. We encourage you to look over these areas and ask questions at the IEP meeting.  

Goal Pages:  Goals are written based on the areas of need identified in the PLOP. Various special education staff that work with your child will write these goals.  Each goal will have one separate page.    

Educational Accomondations and Support Page:  This page will list other ways that we can help your child at school.  It might include how we can change the environment (i.e. where your child sits in class), or how we can specially change the workload to best meet your child’s needs.  We can also list ways that we can specially help your child that are not listed already in the IEP.    Your input is welcome.

Assessment Page:   This page will show various ways that children in the district are assessed. We can make special accomodations to meet the needs of your child if necessary.

Educational Services and Placement:
These pages shows where your child will be educated during the day.  The MPW (minutes  per week) show the minimum amount of time each special educator will be  spending with your time.   The last of these pages show where your child will be placed for the majority of the day (placement considerations) as well whether  or not extended school year (summer school) is recommended for your child. 

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What is RTI?
RTI, or response to intervention, is a service delivery model that allows children to receive tiered support for speech and language services. RTI is divided into three tiers (Tier 1, Tier 2, and Tier 3) with children receiving speech and language services through an IEP (individualized education plan) at the top of the third tier. Students' progress is evaluated at the end of every 6-8 week cycle.

Tier 1

Tier 1 services are provided in the classroom. The speech language pathologist consults with the classroom teacher and helps provide visual cues, verbal cues, and accommodations that can help the student improve his or her speech and language skills. The speech pathologist may also check in weekly or bi-weekly with Tier 1 students. Students remain in Tier 1 for at least one 6-8 week cycle.

Tier 2

Tier 2 services are provided as a pull-out service (outside the general education classroom). Students in Tier 2 receive 15-30 minutes per week of direct service from the speech language pathologist. Students receiving Tier 2 services are seen in small groups (usually 2-4 students) who are all working on similar goals. Students remain in Tier 2 for at least two 6-8 week cycles.

Tier 3

Tier 3 services are also provided as a pull-out service. Students receiving Tier 3 services have not made adequate progress on their goals during two consecutive cycles of Tier 2 services. Tier 3 services are more intensive - students will either receive more minutes per week, more individualized attention, or more intensive instruction. Students remain in Tier 2 services for at least one 6-8 week cycle.

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