It's my first IEP - what does my signature mean?

Many parents and guardians are concerned about what their signatures mean on the front page of an IEP. That first meeting, and in truth, any and all subsequent meetings, can be intimidating.  You will likely have a table full of people who seem to know more than you do about your child and his or her needs. You may be overwhelmed with test scores, accommodations, goals, and so forth. You know you signed a few pieces of paper, but in looking back on it, you wonder.. just what did I sign my name to, and what does it all mean??

One of the first things to remember is this - your signature on the IEP front page does NOT imply that you agree with the contents of the document.  It is simply an attendance form to show you were present at the table when the plan was discussed.

Other papers do not carry this caveat - placement pages, for example, specifically ask for you to agree or disagree with placement in Special Education.  On those, you are stating your opinion.. but the IEP signature page is simply to show you were there. Should you disagree with any part of the IEP, even after you have signed it, you are welcome to call the case manager, (generally that is your child's Special Education teacher, sometimes it is the school psychologist) and request an additional meeting. 

Just because an IEP team MUST meet at least once per year, there is no regulation stating that you cannot meet again before that year date is up!  When in doubt, call an IEP meeting!

Making sense of acronyms

Do the acronyms used in Education drive you a little batty? Confusing as they are, teachers and administrators use these acronyms as easily as they breathe, often giving out the air that everyone knows exactly what they mean.

Here is a list of the most commonly used acronyms in Special Education, and their definitions.

• SPED - Special Education
• Reg.Ed or Gen Ed - refers to the General education setting.
• IEP - Individualized Education Plan
• SLD - Specific Learning Disability
• SLI - Speech/Language Imapairment
• A - refers to the Autistic Spectrum and its disorders
• OHI - Other Health Impairment
• ED - Emotional Disability
• OT - Occupational Therapy (often refers to fine-motor function)
• PT - Physical Therapy (often refers to gross-motor function)
• PLEP or PLAAFP- refers to a students Present Level of Educational Performance or Present Level of Academic Achievement  and Functionial Performance.  In other words, how is the student doing RIGHT NOW in school.
• WISC/WIAT/WJIII  - these are terms used to describe some of the most commonly used psycho-educational tests.

Your own state, district and school may have their own short-cut language too.  Never feel afraid to ask what those acronyms mean!! You have a right to know!!

Educationally yours,
The SpEd Guru