Individualized Education Program Development Research Articles

IEP Team Members’ Experiences On the Process Of Preparing Individualized Education Program In A Secondary School

Phenomenological design, one of the qualitative research methods, was used in this research, which was carried out to determine the experiences, opinions and suggestions of the stakeholders in the Individualized Education Program (IEP) development team during the IEP preparation process. Nine families, 20 teachers and a school administrator who were in the IEP team and took part in the IEP preparation process participated in the research. Researcher diary, demographic data form, observation and semi-structured interviews were used in accordance with the principle of data triangulation while collecting data from the participants. The data obtained from the participants were analyzed by inductive analysis method. The data were analyzed with the QSR Nvivo 11 package program. As a result of the research, it was concluded that families should be involved in the IEP development process, but this would be possible depending on some preconditions, and one of these preconditions was family education. It has been observed that the stakeholders in the team have developed a communication system based on information sharing. It was observed that the stakeholders had difficulties in the IEP preparation process due to reasons such as insufficient training on the process, insufficient knowledge about the process and laws, and inexperience. According to another result of the research, it was stated that it would not be appropriate for individuals with special needs to take part in the IEP preparation process, but they could be included in the process if certain conditions were met. In addition, as a result of the research, various suggestions were presented on deep research and applications for the IEP development process.

An Investigation on the Opinions of Class and Guidance Teachers About the Challenges in Mainstream Education

Introduction: One of the most important factors in mainstreaming practices is the teacher. The role of the created class and psychological guidance, such as ensuring social cohesion between students with special educational needs and their peers, and the active inclusion of families throughout their life, cannot be denied. It is expected that the opinions and expectations regarding the inclusion difficulties and experiences of the classroom and guidance teachers working in primary schools in the province of Istanbul are reached. Method: In the study in which the case study model, which is one of the qualitative research methods, was used; semi-structured interviews were conducted with seven classroom teachers who have inclusion students in their classroom and six psychological counselor/guidance teachers who have inclusion students in their school. By applying content analysis to the data obtained from the interviews, the main themes and sub-themes were formed and the findings were reached. Findings: Research findings show that classroom teachers prepare the individualized education program (IEP) with the help of the guidance teacher. The school administration does not have enough information about the inclusion practice because the classrooms are crowded. Thus the teachers have difficulty in gaining academic skills, as well as finding and adapting appropriate materials for mainstreaming students. Counselors, on the other hand, state that the IEP development unit remains on paper, that all responsibilities related to IEP are assigned to them, and that the school administration does not cooperate on inclusion. In addition, both classroom teachers and guidance teachers stated that the communication and cooperation they established with the institutions where the student received support education was one-sided and they did not receive any feedback regarding the student. The fact that families do not accept their children's inadequacy, and do not have enough information about inclusion, is another finding that makes cooperation difficult for classroom and guidance teachers. Discussion: The findings obtained from the research revealed the necessity of the classroom and guidance teachers to be in cooperation with the school, family and stakeholders who provide support education to the students in the inclusive practice. This cooperation will enable the student's educational process to improve their learning better. It is recommended to conduct experimental studies based on school-family cooperation in similar studies.

Reported Policies, Guidance, and Related Resources for the Determination of Special Education and Related Services

The Individualized Education Program (IEP) contains information that is critical to ensuring that a student with a disability (SWD) is receiving specially designed instruction as well as the appropriate related services and supports to make meaningful progress in the educational system. With varied practices across states, with some practices characterized by a formulaic approach rather than a student-centered decision-making process, the purpose of this review is to summarize the findings of currently available guidance related to determining the type and amount of special education and related services. This review aims to counteract practices that are not in alignment with the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA), and to ensure that state and district guidance for IEP development promotes individualized development of special education and related services based on the unique needs of each student. The themes emphasize the importance of individualized, team-based, and flexible decision-making, the application of evidence-based practices, and ensuring clarity within the IEP. The article further presents the complexity of determining special education and related services while also recognizing the true constraints that exist and encroach upon student-centered and data-driven decisions made within IEP Teams.

Using a Social Model to Guide Individualized Education Program Development and Change Educational Paradigms to Be Critically Inclusive.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act explicitly acknowledges disability as a natural part of the human experience. However, special education services, including speech-language services, often focus on remediating the characteristics of the individual with the disability rather than addressing the disabling conditions of the school environment or leveraging the supports and resources available or potentially available to the student. The purpose of this article is to provide a social model of disability framework to guide Individualized Education Program (IEP) development and change educational paradigms around language and communication. A discussion of a new theoretical framework, critical inclusion, is situated within the speech-language pathologist's role in the IEP process. An argument for adopting an integrative approach to service delivery through the social model of disability is provided. The Social Communication and Engagement Triad framework is then used to illustrate a social model of disability approach to assessment, IEP goal development, and service delivery case examples. Speech-language pathologists and all educators have a responsibility for creating a space where all learners belong and diversity in all aspects is celebrated. Embracing a social model of disability approach to the IEP process can support practitioners in their work toward creating a more equitable and inclusive education system.

Nothing has changed on the Mainstreaming Front: Classroom Teachers and Individualized Education Program (IEP)

The aim of the study is to reveal the problems encountered in the process of IEP development and functional implementation in the classroom environment, which are frequently mentioned in the national literature in Türkiye, and the solution suggestions for eliminating these problems from the perspective of classroom teachers. For this purpose, the study was designed with phenomenology, one of the qualitative research methods. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with nine classroom teachers working in inclusive classrooms in Eskişehir. The data were analyzed through content analysis. The results of the study revealed that there are unfavorable physical conditions for students with special needs, unfair workload, and insufficient cooperation among stakeholders. Suggestions such as the appointment of special education teachers to schools with inclusive classrooms and special education mentoring were offered.

Chatting with GPT: Enhancing Individualized Education Program Goal Development for Novice Special Education Teachers

Novice special education teachers often face challenges in developing high-quality Individualized Education Program (IEP) goals for children with autism. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) tools, such as ChatGPT, has shown potential in supporting teachers in IEP development. This study aimed to investigate the impact of ChatGPT on the quality, content, and time spent on IEP goal development for novice special education teachers. Moreover, impact of previous training on IEP and goal development was examined. 22 novice special education teachers were randomly assigned to either the ChatGPT group or the control group. Participants developed IEP goals for five children with autism, and the quality of the goals was assessed using the Revised IEP/IFSP Goals and Objective Rating Instrument. The use of ChatGPT significantly improved the quality of IEP goals developed by novice special education teachers, regardless of previous training status. Moreover, novice teachers who used ChatGPT spent significantly less time developing IEP goals compared to those who did not use ChatGPT. Furthermore, the IEP goals developed by the ChatGPT group were more comprehensive, addressing specific strengths and needs of children with autism, in comparison to the goals developed by the control group. The findings suggest that the use of ChatGPT can be a valuable tool in supporting novice special education teachers in developing high-quality IEP goals efficiently. The study highlights the importance of providing training on IEP development and the potential benefits of AI tools in general and special education practice.

Opinions of Teachers Working in Special Education Schools on the Individualized Education Program Team

The aim of this study is to determine the views of teachers working in special education schools on the functioning of the Individualized Education Program Development Unit. The study group of the research consists of 15 volunteer teachers working in special education schools affiliated with the Ministry of National Education in the city center of Konya in the 2020-2021 academic year. These special education schools are schools for three disability groups: mental, hearing, and visual impairments. Schools with individuals with intellectual disabilities are of two types moderate, severe, and mild. A descriptive survey model was used to collect data in order to determine teachers' opinions. The data of the research were collected through semi-structured interviews. In addition, a demographic information form was prepared in order to obtain general information about the teachers. According to the results of the research, it was seen that Individualized Education Program Development Units were not established in schools, and when they were created, they did not function for their purpose.

Individualized education program development in early childhood education: a disabled children’s childhood studies perspective

ABSTRACT This article describes the results of a disabled children’s childhood studies analysis of Section 1414 of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (2004), which outlines definitions and procedures related to evaluations, eligibility determinations, individualized education programs (IEP), and educational placements for disabled children in the United States. Within the context of this key piece of legislation, disabled children are constructed as deficient, dependent, and incompetent. A disabled children’s childhood studies approach to the processes described in Section 1414 calls for a reframing of disability, and the creation of interdependent methods for supporting the active participation of disabled children in creating and implementing individualized education programs. This paper provides anecdotes illustrative of the current IEP process, and draws on disabled children’s childhood studies perspectives to show possibilities for a participatory approach to IEP development and implementation.

Developing Individualized Education Program (IEP) on Early Reading for Special Needs Students in Inclusive Primary Schools in Magetan Regency

This research describes and explains (i) the condition of early reading for special needs students in inclusive primary schools in Magetan regency, Indonesia; (ii) the teachers’ need for an Individualized Education Program (IEP) for early reading; and (iii) the development of IEP in early reading for special needs students. The study is developmental research introduced by Borg dan Gall. The research was planned to be conducted in four steps: exploration, model development, model testing, and dissemination. However, the current study explains the development of IEP at the exploration step. A descriptive qualitative method was used in the exploration step. Data were collected through document study, observation, and interview, and analyzed using the interactive model. The research at the exploration step showed the following results: First, teachers faced many constraints while teaching early reading to special needs students; each special needs student faced a different obstacle which only a few teachers understood and tackled well. In addition, some obstacles also came from parents who are unaware of their children’s needs and cannot contribute to their studies. Second, teachers need IEP in early reading for special needs students to tackle the different obstacles. Based on the research results, a prototype for IEP in early reading for special needs students at inclusive primary schools in Magetan Regency was designed at the development step.
 Keywords: Individualized Education Program (IEP), early reading, special need students, inclusive primary school

An Investigation of the Turkish Preservice Teachers’ Attitudes Towards Individualized Education Program Development Process

The purpose of the current study was to investigate the attitudes of preservice teachers who study at Turkish universities towards the development process of an individualized education program (IEP). The participants of the study were composed of 304 teachers who were all seniors at the faculties of education in the 2019-2020 academic year. The data were collected through the attitude determination scale (ADS) towards the IEP development process developed by Tike (2007). The scale contained 3 dimensions and 15 items. A Principal Component Analysis revealed a 3-factor structure of 15 items with a 61,39% of the total variance explained. In order to determine the internal consistency a reliability test was implemented and the Cronbach Alpha coefficient for the 3 factors was found as .67. The collected data were analyzed through a statistical analysis program. In order to determine a possible significant difference between the participants’ genders, previous interaction with inclusive students, taking inclusive education classes and their attitudes towards IEP development process, an independent variables t-test was implemented. To determine whether there exists a significant difference according to the participants’ knowledge of the regulations regarding inclusive education a one-way ANOVA was implemented. When a difference was revealed Tukey test was implemented to determine the differentiation and check the difference between the mean scores. At the end of the study, a statistically significant difference was found regarding the participants’ genders, taking inclusive education classes and knowledge of the regulations regarding inclusive education while no statistically significant difference was found according to their previous interaction with inclusive education. Keywords: Individualized education program (IEP), preservice teachers, attitude DOI: 10.7176/JEP/11-16-11 Publication date: June 30th 2020

Preparing Educators for Developing Culturally and Linguistically Responsive IEPs

An Individualized Education Program (IEP) is the cornerstone for documenting the appropriate education being provided to students who qualify for special education and related services under the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. A growing group of students with a disability are students who are culturally and linguistically diverse and addressing the particular needs of this group is essential. This research to practice article examines key issues related to how teachers are prepared to develop culturally and linguistically responsive (CLR) IEPs. Reviews of recent research and literature indicate the need for increased attention in the development of CLR IEPs for diverse learners, with specific implications for contemporary educator preparation.

Toward Authentic IEPs and Transition Plans: Student, Parent, and Teacher Perspectives

This mixed-methods study examined perspectives on factors that influence meaningful student and parent involvement in Individualized Education Program (IEP) transition planning. Survey data and open-ended qualitative interviews with urban high school students with a learning disability (LD; n = 16), their parents ( n = 9), and their teachers ( n = 17) were analyzed. A group comparison of student and teacher ratings on the Student Involvement Survey revealed no difference between students and teachers on level of school efforts to facilitate student and parent involvement. However, qualitative analysis of interview data resulted in the emergence of four primary themes related to challenges to meaningful involvement: (a) facilitation of student involvement in IEP development, (b) challenges to parent involvement in IEP development, (c) challenges and effective supports for graduation, and (d) supports needed for career and college preparation. Recommendations for school practices to support student and parent involvement in the development of authentic IEPs is provided.

Avoiding Substantive Errors in Individualized Education Program Development

Avoiding Substantive Errors in Individualized Education Program Development

Individualized Education Program Development Among Racially/Ethnically Diverse Children and Adolescents with Health Conditions.

Background Black, Hispanic, and low income children bear a greater burden of chronic health conditions compared to wealthier white counterparts. Under federal law, schools provide services to children when their health conditions impair learning. These school services, called individualized education programs (IEPs) can reduce disparities in school outcomes. This paper examines the extent to which children with health conditions have an IEP plan, an important first step in understanding service utilization. Method Andersen's Behavioral Model was used to examine IEP plan presence by using the 2012 National Survey of Children's Health. School aged children (6-17), with at least one health condition (N=16,496) were examined using multivariable logistic regression analysis to understand predisposing (age, sex, race/ethnicity), enabling (family and neighborhood), and need (health related) factors as predictors of having an IEP plan. Race/ethnicity interaction terms tested for moderating effects of race/ethnicity on the relationship between predisposing, enabling and need factors and having an IEP plan. Results Hispanic children were 93.4% (OR=.066) less likely and Black children were 87.9% (OR=.121) less likely to have an IEP plan compared to White children. Black, Hispanic, and Multiracial children were more likely to have an IEP plan if they had more family and neighborhood resources (OR range 1.37-1.62) and greater health needs and health care needs (OR range 1.29-2.57). Conclusion The Behavioral Model was useful in predicting the presence of IEP plans among racially/ethnically diverse children with health conditions as an important step in understanding disparities in healthcare access in schools.

Which Procedural Parts of the IEP Process Are the Most Judicially Vulnerable?

To provide a missing piece to the legal foundation of professional development and practice for the individualized education program (IEP) process, the authors report the results of a comprehensive systematic analysis of court decisions specific to IEP-related procedural violations after the 2004 amendments of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act. Research questions focused on the frequency and outcomes of alleged procedural violations in the following categories: (a) IEP components, (b) IEP team, (c) parent participation, and (d) IEP development. Procedural violations in the parent participation category were the most frequently adjudicated; the outcomes ratio in court averaged approximately 3:1 in favor of school districts for cases across all four categories. Implications for practice include reconsideration of current policies and practices to whatever extent that they were based on case law rather than proactive priorities, per the lack of differentiation in prevailing publications and presentations in special education.

Book Review: Beginning with Braille: Firsthand Experiences with a Balanced Approach to Literacy

Beginning with Braille: Firsthand Experiences with a Balanced Approach to Literacy, Second Edition, by Anna M. Swenson. New York: AFB Press, 2016, 458 pp. Paperback, $59.95; e-book (ePUB or Kindle), $41.95; online, $35.95; by online chapter, $10.95 each. Readers are in for a delightful time when they pick up the second edition of Beginning with Braille: Firsthand Experiences with a Balanced Approach to Literacy, by Anna M. Swenson. Since the first edition of this book was published in 1999, teachers of children with visual impairments have gravitated to it for help with beginning braille readers. This second edition is jammed with even more practical, creative teaching suggestions and is a welcome addition to the literature. Teachers of braille readers have very few role models to imitate, unlike those who teach children to read print. Such teachers are lucky to have Ms. Swenson, whose unique ability to combine educational theory with practice has enabled her to create this thorough, easy-to-read, state-of-the-art resource for teaching reading and writing braille. She cites up-to-date research from general education reading literature and weaves it into research on teaching braille reading. This blend of information, along with her experience as a teacher of reading and writing braille, is what makes this book so valuable. Although teachers of children with visual impairments are the obvious audience of the book, it will also be a beneficial resource for parents. Preservice teachers who read this text will have a ready reference for when they are assigned their first beginning braille reader. General education teachers may also, if they desire, find numerous sections of this book that will help them understand the needs of braille readers should they have such students in their classrooms (especially chapters 5, Promoting Early Literacy ...; 6, An Overview of Options for Literacy Instruction; and 7, Teaching the Beginning Reader ...; 15, Adapting Print Materials, and 16, Braille Literacy for Sighted Classmates). ESSENTIAL INFORMATION AND LATEST TRENDS There are three parts or sections of the book. Part 1, A Context for Instruction; Part 2, You and Your Reader; and Part 3, Beyond Instruction: in the Inclusion Classroom. Part 1 contains background information that is essential for teachers of children who will be learning to read and write using braille, including the latest trends and research in general literacy instruction as well as braille instruction. General guidelines such as how much time to spend with beginning readers, how to integrate literacy with the expanded core curriculum, and balancing general education and individualized instruction are presented along with general strategies for working in the general education classroom. Sidebar 3.4 in Chapter 3, Desk 'Apps' and Other Practical Tips, provides a great explanation on how to set up a desk area or work station for a Braille-reading child in a general education setting, and it is just one example of the practical guidance that is provided in this book. Collaboration is stressed in this section and suggestions for collaboration are incorporated throughout the book. Assessment and documentation are also highlighted in this short, but intensive, section, which includes working with Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams. Although the author suggests that teachers who want to get started with a braille reader might immediately move directly to Part 2, this reviewer feels that a teacher's time would be well spent perusing the first few chapters of Part 1, since they set the tone for the instructional strategies to follow. Certainly college professors using this book as a textbook (which I would highly recommend) would want their preservice teachers to read these early chapters, since they provide the why of what a person does when teaching reading and writing in braille to beginning braille readers and incorporates the development of IEPs with assessment and progress-monitoring. …

The Development of Individualized Education Programs

There are more than 6.6 million students with disabilities in U.S. public schools who receive special education services, which means that there are 6.6 million Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) that have been developed and are being implemented at any given time. Each IEP represents real cost in educational opportunity, relationship building between families and schools, time, and resource allocation. Given this information, it is important to examine what we have learned from research on the development of IEPs, and to begin charting a new direction for research and practice related to IEP development. This literature review examines published, peer-reviewed research studies that have examined IEP development since the 1997 reauthorization of the Individuals With Disabilities Education Act (IDEA). The review concludes with a discussion of how findings from previous research on IEP development can inform future research agendas, educator practice, and federal and state policies.

Avoiding Procedural Errors in Individualized Education Program Development

Avoiding Procedural Errors in Individualized Education Program Development

From Common Core State Standards to Standards-Based IEPs: A Brief Tutorial

Abstract Clinicians can use the Common Core State Standards (2010) along with requirements in the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act (IDEA, 2004) to create conditions that support standards-based goals and objectives in a student's individualized education program (IEP). The IEP is the blueprint for speech-language pathology services provided to and on behalf of students with disabilities that allow them to participate in and make progress in the general curriculum (American Speech-Language-Hearing Association [ASHA], 2007). The IEP is written to meet the unique needs of the individual child and to delineate the specially designed instruction the child needs to make progress in meeting grade level or course standards. School-based speech-language pathologists are important IEP team members as educators move into a system that uses IEP development as a problem-solving tool rather than a listing of skills that will be taught to the student with disabilities.

Peer-Reviewed Research and Individualized Education Programs (IEPs): An Examination of Intent and Impact

The reauthorized Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) requires Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams to base the selection of special education, related services, and supplementary aids and services on peer-reviewed research (PRR) to the extent practicable. This article examines the intended purpose of the PRR provision and its impact on the development of IEPs. Intent is examined through the legislative history of the PRR requirement. The impact of the PRR provision is illustrated in an analysis of litigation and a presentation of critical commentary on the application of empirical research, based on scientific method, to establish the efficacy of special education interventions. Recommendations to assist IEP teams in the selection of PRR-based methods are provided.