Special Education

Parent's Guide to Individual Education Planning

Definitions of some terms used in this guide

Individual Education Plan (IEP)

The Individual Education Plan Order, a Ministerial Order, 1 requires school boards to design, review and implement individual education plans for students with special needs.

1 Order of the Minister of Education, Ministry of Education, Province of British Columbia. Individual Education Plan Order, M638/95. Victoria, BC.

Individual Education Plans

are specifically designed for students as soon as practical after they are identified by the school board as students with special needs. An IEP describes program adaptations and/or modifications and the special services that are to be provided for the student. It is reviewed regularly and updated at least annually. IEP includes one or more of the following:

  • learning outcomes that are different from, or are additions to, the expected learning outcomes set out in the provincial curriculum guide for a course, or subject and grade;
  • a list of support services required for the student to achieve the learning outcomes established for the student, either the outcomes set out in the prescribed curriculum or individualized outcomes set for the student; and/or
  • a list of the adapted materials, or instructional or assessment methods required by the student to meet the learning outcomes established for the student.

An IEP will vary in length and complexity according to the severity of each student's special needs. A short IEP might be adequate for students who only require a change in the procedures for examinations and tests or for those who need support for note-taking. The IEP will be more complex and extensive for a student with multiple disabilities, and more people will be involved in planning it.

Educational program

An educational program is defined in the School Act as the organized set of learning activities that, in the opinion of the board of education, is designed to enable learners "to develop their potential and to acquire the knowledge, skills, and attitudes needed to contribute to a healthy, democratic and pluralistic society with a prosperous and sustainable economy."

Learning Outcomes

The standards of achievement for a course, or subject and grade, are set out as learning outcomes in the provincial curriculum guide for that course or subject.

Adaptations

Many students with special needs are capable of achieving the prescribed learning outcomes of the curriculum, but require some changes to the ways they are taught or their learning is assessed. They will have an Individual Education Plan with the necessary adaptations outlined. Different types of adaptations include examples such as the following:

  • different formats for resources to enable students to receive instruction or information, such as Braille or books-on-tape;
  • different teaching strategies, such as visual cues or breaking tasks into smaller parts; and/or
  • different ways of demonstrating learning, such as oral exams or extra time.

Teachers who determine that adaptations are appropriate make those decisions to enable students to achieve the same learning outcomes as those prescribed in the provincial curriculum.

Modifications

Some students may need learning outcomes that are different from, or in addition to, the ones set out in the provincial curriculum guide. These modifications to the learning outcomes are specifically developed to meet the student's particular needs.

Students with special needs and the Individual Education Plan

Adaptations

For students whose learning outcomes are the same as the provincial curriculum:

  • teaching methods, materials and/or evaluation methods are adapted and identified in the IEP

Modifications

For students whose learning outcomes are different from or in addition to the provincial curriculum:

  • individualized, personalized goals are developed and stated in the IEP
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