FAQs

A.

IEP stands for Individualized Education Plan.  Children who are eligible for an IEP are entitled to education that is adapted to meet their individual needs and that is reasonably calculated to produce meaningful progress in all areas of need.

A.

The members of a child’s IEP team include parents, at least one of the child’s regular education teachers, a school district representative, someone, such as the school psychologist, who can interpret evaluation results and their implications for instruction of the child, special education teacher(s), others who know your child, transition services representative, and the child if appropriate.

A.

No. Parents are members of their child’s IEP team and must be provided with a meaningful opportunity to participate in the development of their child’s IEP.

A.

Assistive technology includes any special equipment that students need to help them participate in school.  Your child's school district or charter school must assess your child's assistive technology needs.   The district or charter school must also ensure that your child’s teachers and other support staff understand how to use and teach with the device.

A.

Related services are services needed to assist a student with a disability to benefit from special education.  Related services must be provided if the IEP team determines that a student needs the service in order to benefit from his education.

A.

• Transportation
• Audiological services
• Psychological services
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Counseling services
• School health services
• Social work services
• Mental health services
• Parent counseling or training
• Speech and language pathology/therapy
• Adapted physical education
• Behavior intervention program
• Assistive technology devices and services

A.

No.  If a student with a disability had an IEP in effect at a charter school or in another Pennsylvania school district, the new district, or new charter school must, in consultation with the parents, implement the student’s prior IEP, or recommend a new IEP, pending its re-evaluation of the student.

A.

Children who are eligible for both gifted education and special education are very special kids who are often called “twice exceptional.”  The School District must ensure that such children’s needs with regards to giftedness and enrichment are met at the same time that their special education needs are met.  IEPs for gifted children must included gifted services and enrichment.

A.

Yes.  In Pennsylvania, all charter schools, both cyber charters and and brick and mortar charter schools, are required to identify and support children who are eligible for special education.

A.

Child find is what the IDEA calls the obligation of the school district or charter school to identify and evaluate children who are thought to be eligible for special education.  Pennsylvania Hearing Officers take this legal obligation very seriously.  School district's and charter schools are charged with the expertise to know when a child may need special education and to identify that child's needs and provide appropriate support.

A.

LEA stands for Local Education Agency. This is the school district or charter school that your child attends. The LEA is the entity that has the legal obligation to provide your child with a Free and Appropriate Public Education (FAPE).

A.

IEP meetings must be held once per school year. However, a parent, or anyone else on the IEP team, may call an IEP meeting at any time.

A.

Yes, Parents are allowed to bring whomever they think will be helpful to an IEP meeting. Education consultants, advocates, special education attorneys, as well as tutors or therapists who know your child can be very helpful.

A.

Yes.  It is also important for your daughter to have input into decisions that will affect her. In Pennsylvania, transition services must be included in the IEP that is in effect when she turns 14. The school must invite you and your daughter to transition IEP meetings.