Individualized Education Program

In the United States an Individualized Education Plan, commonly referred to as an IEP, is mandated by the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act ( IDEA ). In Canada and the United Kingdom, an equivalent document is called an Individual Education Plan.

In the US, the IDEA requires public schools to develop an IEP for every student with a disability who is found to meet the federal and state requirements for special education. [1] The IEP must be designed to provide the child with a Free Appropriate Public Education ( FAPE ). The IEP refers both to the educational program to be provided to a child with a disability and to the written document that describes that educational program.

Key considerations in developing an IEP include assessing students in all areas related to the suspected disability ( ies ), considering access to the general curriculum, considering how the disability affects the student’s learning, developing goals and objectives that make the biggest difference for the student, and ultimately choosing a placement in the least restrictive environment.