Crash Course on Special Education Terminology

 

Today, we want to continue looking at the language of IEP's. There is IEP specific terms but there is also general special education language. Both IEP specific and general special education terminology will be used at IEP meetings. Let's get some basic definitions for information you might hear at a meeting.

• Accommodation: a change in the way your child learns or demonstrates knowledge. Even with accommodations, students are expected to learn the same content as their peers. (I'll devote an entire post to accommodations in the next few weeks).
  
• Extended school year services (ESY): These are special education services provided outside of the normal school year or school day. They can include afterschool tutoring or summer school..
  
• Least restrictive environment (LRE): Students with documented disabilities must be taught in the least restrictive environment. Some people think that this means general education. There is a lot of debate on what this means for each individual child.
• Modification: A modification is a change in what a student is expected to learn.
• Individuals with Disabilities Education Act IDEA 2004 The original legislation was written in 1975 guaranteeing students with disabilities a free and appropriate public education and the right to be educated with their non-disabled peers. Congress has reauthorized this federal law. The most recent revision occurred in 2004.
• FAPE (Free and Appropriate Public Education)Special education and related services are provided at public expense, without charge to the parents
• LEA (local education agency) also known as the local school district.
• Parent Consent Special education term used by IDEA that stating the parents have been fully informed in their native language or other mode of communication of all the information about the action for they are giving consent and that they understand and agree in writing to that action.
• Specially Designed Instruction (SDI) For all practical purposes, this is the instruction that will be planned and delivered by a special education teacher to meet an IEP goal.

These are a few essential terms a parent needs to know in order to understand an IEP. Have I missed some others? If you have others that you would like defined, let me know. I want to make sure you have all the information you need to advocate for your child and his/her education.

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