BEFORE the IEP
The HQ IEPs Resource Lead Project aims to increase knowledge and engagement of special education providers as members of the IEP team to help develop high quality IEPs that will result in educational benefit. These are resources to help prepare for the IEP Journey.
Understand the three prongs of eligibility for special education identifying whether a student qualifies for specialized support under IDEA. These criteria ensure that only those who genuinely need special education services receive them, based on the presence of a disability, its impact on educational performance, and the necessity for specially designed instruction.
Fact Sheet Examine the five key components of educational benefit in the IEP process to ensure that each student's individualized plan effectively supports their learning and growth.
Fact Sheet Understand the importance of both procedural and substantive requirements in the IEP process to be able to support the provision of a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).
Fact Sheet Fact Sheet Learn about the assessment process in special education, outlining how evaluations are conducted to identify students' needs. This resource highlights the use of the RIOT protocol, and an assessment checklist to guide a collaborative and comprehensive assessment process.
The Assessment checklist provides educators with a clear, structured approach to evaluating a student's performance across key areas such as academics, social and emotional development, self-help skills, motor skills, communication, intellectual functioning, health, and vocational readiness. By ensuring all relevant domains are addressed, these checklists enhance the objectivity, reliability, and transparency of the evaluation process, supporting a comprehensive understanding of each student’s needs and progress.
Fact Sheet This resource provides educators with a structured approach to collecting data by dividing the process into four key components: record review, interviews and input, observation, and testing (RIOT). The RIOT protocol is especially useful for ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the student.
Fact Sheet Unlock the full potential of the IEP process by starting with a deep understanding of the student’s strengths, interests, and preferences. Learn how to effectively prepare for the IEP meeting by gathering comprehensive, measurable data that accurately describes the student’s current performance and challenges. Understand how present levels of performance not only highlight areas of need but also provide a crucial baseline for setting meaningful goals.
Fact Sheet Transition planning is essential for guiding a student’s journey from high school to post-secondary life. Review how educators can collaborate with students to craft a vision and explore future possibilities, laying the groundwork for developing the Individual Transition Plan (ITP).
Fact Sheet The Present Levels Packet is a tool for educators to organize and document a student's current academic and functional performance. This information is crucial for developing an effective Individualized Education Program (IEP), as it guides the creation of measurable goals and the identification of necessary supports and services.
Tools This resource provides educators with a structured approach to collecting data by dividing the process into four key components: record review, interviews and input, observation, and testing (RIOT). The RIOT protocol is especially useful for ensuring a comprehensive understanding of the student.
Fact Sheet This resource is a user-friendly template designed to help students map out their future vision. It guides them in thinking about both short-term goals and long-term dreams, such as potential jobs and whether they plan to pursue higher education. Ideal for encouraging thoughtful planning, this template empowers students to envision and take steps toward their future.
Tools An easy-to-use tool for educators to use at the beginning of the year to know who their student is as a learner to support them best.
Tools Student Presentation Template for Early Childhood/Elementary Students
Electronic braille file (Electronic Braille) | Screen reader accessible (Screen Reader) Tools Thorough preparation for an IEP meeting can help ensure a smooth and efficient process. It's important to review both the procedural requirements mandated by IDEA and strategies that foster a collaborative environment, including preparation of the meeting space, engagement with parents, and effective team collaboration.
Fact Sheet This resource provides a sample IEP meeting agenda tailored for both triennial and annual reviews. Feel free to customize it to suit your specific needs.
Tools This resource offers an annotated IEP meeting agenda sample, complete with detailed guidance and a breakdown of each agenda item.
This template provides a sample of frequently used IEP meeting norms. It’s recommended to limit your norms to no more than five. Feel free to customize to meet the needs of your IEP team.
This resource offers examples of meeting norms categorized by specific areas. You can use it to create customized norms for your IEP meetings, tailored to the unique needs of each IEP team. Limiting your norms to no more than five is recommended.
Side-by-side transition checklist for Part C, Part B, and families
Planificación para la transición: de la Parte C a la Parte B con la lista de verificación de transición de IDEA (Spanish) | التخطيط لعملية الانتقال: القائمة المرجعية لعملية الانتقال من خدمات الجزء C إلى خدمات الجزء B من قانون تعليم الأفراد ذوي الإعاقات ) )IDEA (Arabic) | Lập Kế Hoạch Chuyển Tiếp: Danh Sách Kiểm Tra Quá Trình Chuyển Tiếp Từ Phần C Sang Phần B Của IDEA (Vietnamese) | 过渡计划：IDEA C 部分至 B 部分过渡 检查表 (Mandarin) Tools Sample survey to share with your families to gather preferred communication methods.
Tools Ensure clear communication, document interactions and foster a collaborative partnership with families using this communication log.
Tools Customize this "save the date" and/or "reminder cards" for your upcoming IEP meeting(s).
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