5 Myths About Individualized Education Programs (IEPs)

The laws surrounding Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) for students to receive special education services are broad and often difficult to understand, so it is no surprise that there are a number of misconceptions that people have about IEPs.  Below is a list of some common myths about IEPs, along with the facts to follow.

1. Myth: Parents are not a member of the child’s IEP team.

Fact: Parents are not only extremely important members of the child’s IEP team, but they are usually the only permanent members of the IEP team as well.  The IEP team is a group of professionals including but not limited to teachers, psychologists, social workers, speech-language pathologists, as well as parents, meant to provide the most accurate representation of the child in all facets of his or her life.  Therefore, since parents often know their children the best and spend more time with them than anyone else, they are probably the most important part of the IEP team.  In addition, parents must be in full agreement of the suggested services or they can refuse them or insist on re-evaluation.

2. Myth: Students with an IEP must be taught in a separate classroom.

Fact: The majority of students that have an IEP are in the same classroom as students who don’t.  The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act requires that students are placed in the least restrictive environment in their school, meaning that students with IEPs remain in a general education setting whenever possible, with the proper supports in place to ensure a quality education.  Students are taken out of the general education setting only when it has been determined that their learning will excel in a more restrictive classroom.

3. Myth: Changes to an IEP can only be made during the annual IEP meeting.

Fact: An IEP is a live document that can be changed as needed.  If a parent, teacher, or other support staff feels that the accommodations and modifications in an IEP are no longer helpful to the student, an IEP meeting can be requested at any time.  When parents request an IEP meeting, the meeting is to take place within 30 days of the request, and changes can be discussed.

4. Myth: Children must attend IEP meetings.

Fact: It is completely up to the parent and the child to decide if the child should be at the meeting.  Depending on the age and level of understanding of the student, sometimes it is helpful to have him or her there to discuss their own difficulties, but it is not necessary.  Legally speaking, the respective student must be invited to an IEP meeting that will determine transition plans (which happens at age 14 ½) or if they’re of legal age (18 years old in Illinois), but they can always waive their rights to a guardian if they don’t want to attend.

5. Myth: An IEP will follow a student around forever.

Fact: It is required by law that students go through a full re-evaluation every three years to determine if services are still needed and to what extent.  There are also annual IEP meetings to discuss the student’s progress and needs, and IEPs can be changed at this point as well.  In addition, parents do have the right at any time to stop special education services for their child, although this should be done with caution and never without advice from a professional.

Written by Marlee Chizhevsky

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