If you have a student with a learning disability in your classroom, it is necessary to know how to write individualized education programs (IEP). Through IEPs, educators can ensure that their students are being properly taught and receiving methods that generate effective learning. However, you may have never created an IEP. Don’t worry—this article’s discussing five steps for writing an IEP.

First of all, for those of you who are not familiar with IEPs, here’s a quick summary. Individualized Education Programs are the means by which teachers and other staff, faculty, and students’ parents can better communicate with each other and track the students’ progress. While IEPs tend to take up a lot of teachers’ time, their existence and implementation are crucial to the development of the child.

Teachers write the IEP with the student’s parents. 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 levelsA statement of the annual short-term and long-term goals for the child’s education
2. 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
3. A specific date for the commencement of services and an indication of the length of time the services will be available
4. Determination and documentation of the objectives of the services and procedures for evaluating the student’s performance and progression

Teachers have freedom in creating the IEP, because no specific form is required for writing the document. The government is primarily concerned that goals, objectives, services, and method of evaluation are clearly stated. New teachers should check with their local school and district for the general procedures in writing an IEP.