What is an IEP?

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 requires that all students with disabilities in need of special education services be provided a free, appropriate public education designed to meet their unique needs. The cornerstone of this provision is the development and implementation of the Individualized Education Program (IEP). The IEP must be developed at a meeting at which parent and school personnel jointly make decisions about the student's program, and must be reviewed and revised at least annually.

The IEP provides goals based on the general curriculum to guide the special education services to be provided in the least restrictive environment, which for most children is the general education classroom. It also outlines the type and amount of such services. The IEP is a necessary resource for all teachers who are responsible for implementing the IEP and planning daily, weekly, and monthly instructional activities for the student with a disability.