I.E.P. - What's it mean?

I.E.P.

Individualized Education Program. That's Individualized Education Program.

It doesn't mean individualized, if the District can afford it.

It doesn't mean individualized, if the District would rather follow a one-size-fits-all approach.

It doesn't mean individualized, only if the teachers want to do it.

It doesn't mean individualized, if the parents don't know better.

It doesn't mean individualized, if the teachers are brave enough to stand up to administration.

It does mean tailored to the individual child and his or her needs.

It does mean that Special Education Coordinators of the District shouldn't just slap on out-of-the-box, off-the-shelf, straight-from-teacher-training-workshops accommodations that will not be implemented or cannot be measured.

Pete and Pam Wright (www.wrightslaw.com) said in a Chicagoland workshop several years ago that no child with an IEP should be failing. This does not mean giving As and Bs to a student who cannot read.

Example: Reading is a skill that must be learned by the child capable of learning. If a student is in 10th Grade but reading at the 3rd-4th Grade level, should there be any question whatsoever that the student needs, and must be provided with, the necessary instruction and tutoring to improve reading skills?