If you are a special education teacher it is necessary to learn how to write a individualized education plan (IEP). Through IEPs, educators can ensure that their students are being properly educated. However you probably have never created an IEP. Do not worry, this article will discuss the five steps of writing an IEP.

Individualized Education Programs are the means by which teachers and other staff, faculty, and parents can better communicate with each other and track a students’ progress. While IEPs tend to take up a lot of a special education teachers’ time, their existence and implementation are crucial to the development of the child.

Special education teachers write the IEP along with the student’s parents and teachers. This gives parents direct involvement in choosing services offered to the child.

An IEP includes the following:

1. A statement of the current educational performance of the child on various levels
2. A statement of the annual short-term and long-term goals for the child’s education
3. A detailed statement of the educational services to be provided to the child, including the amount of time the child will participate in the regular classroom
4. A specific date for the commencement of services and an indication of the length of time the services will be available
5. Determination and documentation of the objectives of the services and procedures for evaluating the student’s performance and progression

Usually school districts have a specialized form for creating an IEP. However, they also have to comply with IDEA (Individuals with Disablitlies Education Act), which mandates that goals, objectives, services, and method of evaluation are clearly stated. New special education teachers should check with their local school and district for the general procedures in writing an IEP.