As an advocate, I am often asked by parents to give suggestions on how to “fix” just one part of their child’s IEP. Some parents will say, “My child has a good IEP. Can you just help me with my child’s math goals?” or “How can we get more speech time for my child?”

Chances are if one section of the IEP is not specific and individualized, other parts of the IEP will also need to be examined and re-written.

Under the Don’t Be Fooled headings below are some common statements seen on IEPs. At first glance the wording might seem okay. However, Don’t Be Fooled, these examples are generic statements and don’t adequately describe a child’s strengths and unique needs.

Read the examples of Best Practice. These are more specific and individualized – that is the type of language you want written in your child’s IEP.

Don’t Be Fooled

Backhanded compliments about your child are mentioned in the IEP.

Ex. Charlie can try when he is paying attention. He finishes his work when he wants to. Charlie would rather do what he chooses instead of listening to directions.

Best Practice

Your child’s specific strengths, interests, and preferences are listed near the beginning of the IEP.

Ex. Charlie loves re- telling stories while looking at picture books. He has an intensive collection of sharks. Charlie learns new skills after watching a classmate do it first.

Don’t Be Fooled

Vague needs are listed.

Ex. Sarah needs to improve her reading skills.

Best Practice

Your child’s unique needs are described in the IEP.

Ex. Sarah needs to hear her 3rd grade typical classmates read the story aloud first in the reading group before she is asked to read aloud.

Don’t Be Fooled

You see numbers and/or percentages in the goals and believe that means they are measurable.

Ex. Jason will read a story with 80% accuracy.

Best Practice

Measurable goals are written. Each goal needs to describe: who, will do what, with what materials, given how much time, with how much support, with what degree of accuracy, in what environments, and for how many times (that’s a mouthful).

Ex. Jason will real aloud a story from his fourth grade basal reader, given 20 minutes, with no more than 3 verbal prompts, with 90% accuracy, in his fourth grade classroom, for 5 consecutive days.

* See pages 26, 27 and 46 in my FREE e-Book, IEP Meetings With Less Drama = Better Outcomes For Your Child for more tips on IEP goals. Download the FREE book here www.cspeda.com

Don’t Be Fooled

Vague statements are made for accommodations and/or modifications.

Ex. Preferential seating.
Easy level of math homework.

Best Practice

Specific and individualized accommodations and/or modifications are listed in the IEP.

Ex. Seated where he can see typical peers around him in order to model following directions.

Assign 7th grade math homework. Give student a completed example of each type of math problem on the homework assignment.

Don’t Be Fooled

Amount of services is based on staff availability. Location is in special education or therapist’s room.

Ex. Occupational therapy for 30 minutes per week, in the special education room.

Best Practice

Service times and location of services are determined by child’s unique needs.

Ex. Occupational therapy for 90 minutes per week, during writing time in the general education classroom.

Wondering if your child’s IEP is good enough?

Want to get better results at your next IEP meeting?

Click here to get a sample form that can be filled out with your input and sent to the IEP team before the meeting.

To make it even easier, you can email me at charmaine@cspeda.com and I will send you a version of the form that you can type right on.

Giving the staff a DRAFT copy of your input beforehand will show your willingness to share with them. It is also helpful if they can share a DRAFT IEP with you prior to the meeting. Of course, the rich discussion at the actual meeting and collaborating for a final IEP will ensure your child has the education he deserves.

Thanks for all you do for your child. Not everyone is as committed as you are!

Change is possible. Let’s make it happen!