Special Education
Individual Education Planning for Students with Special Needs
INTRODUCTION
The Individual Education Plan (IEP) is a useful tool for planning and communicating with colleagues and parents. It can help teachers to apply their knowledge and skills, and aid them in their decisions about teaching students who require assistance in their education programs
This resource guide provides direction to teachers for developing an IEP for students with special needs. Further resource material will be released for students requiring ESL services.
The purpose of this guide is to assist educators to determine when an IEP is necessary, what information should be included, what process should be considered and who should be involved. This guide includes sample forms and plans, which teachers may find useful in preparing IEPs. These are intended only as examples and are not meant to be limiting or prescriptive. To view, or download an electronic version of this and other resource materials which support teachers delivering programs for students with special needs, visit the Special Education Branch section of the Ministry's homepage on the Internet. Point your Web browser to www.bced.gov.bc.ca
Teachers may feel apprehensive when they first become involved in developing an Individual Education Plan. This is a natural feeling that disappears once teachers discover they already have knowledge and skills that can be applied to the process and are likely already following many of the steps in this process.
An IEP is not necessarily lengthy or complex. Most students will require minor changes to the regular program which can be documented in one page. A small number of students, with more involved needs, will require more detailed and comprehensive plans. Length and complexity vary with individual students' needs. In either case, the IEP will provide teachers, students and parents with a plan to adapt materials, instructional strategies or assessment procedures, or to modify, supplement, or replace parts of the regular curriculum.
