IDEA and the IEP Process Essay
Department of Special Education, Grand Canyon University
SPD-208; Survey of Special Education: Teaching Children with Exceptionalities
The IDEA and IEP Process Essay
When becoming a new teacher in special education, you learn many new phrases
such as Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). You
learn new methods that helps new teachers and students understand the curriculum and
assignments, and lastly you learn new ideas that will help create fun and interesting
lessons and activities, though one major part that you learn is the IDEA and IEP process.
The “IDEA” and “IEP” process originated from the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act, which is a federal law that guarantees that all students with disabilities
have the right to a “Free Appropriate Public Education” also known as FAPE which will
be described more later on. With this law it required schools to create IEPs to tailor
education to each student’s needs. As you read further on you will come to an
understanding of how the six key principles work together to create the IEP and IDEA
process, the importance of collaboration between members of the IEP team, the IEP
process and how often the IEP is updated, the major components of the IEP, the key
, takeaways that I will consider as new teacher, and the importance of teachers advocating
for families that are new to special education.
The Six Key Principles
Before the IEP and IDEA process can begin, educators must consider the six key
principles which are Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) which allows students
with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate education, Appropriate Evaluation,
Individualized Education Program (IEP) which is a support method for every student
with a disability, it outlines their goals and their needs, Least Restrictive Environment
Department of Special Education, Grand Canyon University
SPD-208; Survey of Special Education: Teaching Children with Exceptionalities
The IDEA and IEP Process Essay
When becoming a new teacher in special education, you learn many new phrases
such as Least Restrictive Environment (LRE), and Behavior Intervention Plan (BIP). You
learn new methods that helps new teachers and students understand the curriculum and
assignments, and lastly you learn new ideas that will help create fun and interesting
lessons and activities, though one major part that you learn is the IDEA and IEP process.
The “IDEA” and “IEP” process originated from the Individuals with Disabilities
Education Act, which is a federal law that guarantees that all students with disabilities
have the right to a “Free Appropriate Public Education” also known as FAPE which will
be described more later on. With this law it required schools to create IEPs to tailor
education to each student’s needs. As you read further on you will come to an
understanding of how the six key principles work together to create the IEP and IDEA
process, the importance of collaboration between members of the IEP team, the IEP
process and how often the IEP is updated, the major components of the IEP, the key
, takeaways that I will consider as new teacher, and the importance of teachers advocating
for families that are new to special education.
The Six Key Principles
Before the IEP and IDEA process can begin, educators must consider the six key
principles which are Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) which allows students
with disabilities the right to a free and appropriate education, Appropriate Evaluation,
Individualized Education Program (IEP) which is a support method for every student
with a disability, it outlines their goals and their needs, Least Restrictive Environment
