Knowing how to fill in each section of an IEP can be confusing. We’ve broken it down to help you understand how to write things like a vision statement or to identify measurable goals. Remember, an IEP is a document that the parent and school create together. The form may vary between states, but the information should be similar.
General Student Information
This section of the IEP will include a list of the IEP team members, your child’s strengths, your concerns, evaluation results, areas of need for extra support, and a description of how your child’s disability impacts his or her progress in the general curriculum. You will also create a vision statement, outlining short- and long-term goals for your child.
Transition Planning
The IEP must include your child’s goals for life after they finish high school either by receiving a diploma or turning 22. This should include a coordinated set of steps to help prepare them for goals in vocational training or education, employment, and independent living.
Goals
This section includes specific goals for each area of concern, as well as the steps the school staff will take in order to meet these goals. Check out these tips on tracking progress in school to learn more about how to measure these goals.
Accommodations
This section describes any kind of support that your child will need in the classroom in order to learn, such as an aide, extra time for tests, or communication devices.
Program/Services
This section likely has different names based on where you live but should describe the services your child will receive, and where they will occur. Your child might receive some services outside of the regular classroom with a specialist or therapist. You will work with the team to determine which types of settings provide your child the best opportunity to learn. This might include a room with fewer classmates or distractions, or perhaps a fully included setting alongside mainstream students.
Consent
You must provide consent in order for your child to begin receiving the services outlined in the IEP. If you agree with everything as written, you can sign the IEP and it will become a legal document between you and the school. You don’t need to sign it right away! You can take it home and review it to make sure it addresses all of your child’s educational needs. You also have options if you disagree with the IEP as written. Click the button below to learn more about each of these sections, as well as what to do if you disagree with the IEP!
