A free February 2021 webinar by a national advocacy group for special needs students highlighted the following about the federal Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA) law, which WCRIS staff thought our schools might find useful:

Here are the seven things the law requires that a public school district must include in any student’s IEP. The district is free to include other things, but these are mandatory items:

  1. A statement that articulates the “Present Levels of Academic Achievement and Functional Performance” (PLAAFP) – Simply put, this is the baseline description of the student’s current academic and physical abilities.
  2. Measurable Annual Goals – This lists the goals of the IEP that the parent and IEP team wants to meet. The goals should be realistic and achievable.
  3. Measuring Progress towards Annual Goals – This describes how the district is going to measure the progress of the listed goals and how often they will be measured.
  4. Statement of Special Education and Services – This explains the services or accommodations that the district will provide the student.
  5. Participation in Assessment – This identifies if the student will participate in the same assessment that the general student population takes. IDEA’s default is the student does participate unless no accommodations can be made.
  6. Dates, Frequency, Location, and Duration of Services – This identifies when, how long, and how many times the student’s services and accommodations will be administered.
  7. Explanation of the Education Setting – This is a description of the extent that the student will not participate with non-disabled children. According to IDEA, the default is that students with disabilities will participate with their peers to the fullest extent possible.

Private schools can’t request IEPs. But the DPI says IEPs are one way for a child to qualify for the SNSP. Parents must take the lead. So, if schools are having issues with getting an IEP, you can coach your parents to watch for these seven items. This is complicated territory because of the intersection with state and federal laws. See page 30 of the WCRIS SNSP Handbook. You can order any of the WCRIS handbooks here.