1. IEP Basics

2. Special Education Laws Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA-2004) Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA-2004) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act (Section 504) Both apply to agencies that accept federal funding (IUs, public schools, charter schools.) Both apply to agencies that accept federal funding (IUs, public schools, charter schools.) Inapplicable to private schools (i.e. catholic schools) Inapplicable to private schools (i.e. catholic schools)

3. Free Appropriate Public Education (FAPE) Children with Disabilities ages birth to 21 are entitled to a program which is reasonably calculated to afford meaningful educational progress in all domains (academic, social, emotional, behavioral, physical).

4. Eligibility – IDEA 2004 Birth to age 21 Birth to age 21 Ages 0 – 3 Ages 0 – 3 Responsible agency is Service Access and Management (SAM) in Berks Counties/ IDEA designates the Office of Child Development and Early Learning Responsible agency is Service Access and Management (SAM) in Berks Counties/ IDEA designates the Office of Child Development and Early Learning Contact SAM and request an Early Intervention Intake at 610-236-0530 Contact SAM and request an Early Intervention Intake at 610-236-0530 Services are provided in the child’s natural environment (home, daycare, etc.) Services are provided in the child’s natural environment (home, daycare, etc.) Ages 3 to 5 Ages 3 to 5 Responsible agency is the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), IDEA designates the Department of Public Education Responsible agency is the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU), IDEA designates the Department of Public Education Contact BCIU Early Intervention Program at 610-987-8543 Contact BCIU Early Intervention Program at 610-987-8543 Ages 5 to 21 Ages 5 to 21 Responsible agency is the local School District Responsible agency is the local School District

5. Eligibility – IDEA 2004 Autism Autism Deaf-blindness Deaf-blindness Deafness Deafness Emotional Disturbance (ED) Emotional Disturbance (ED) Hearing impairment Hearing impairment Intellectual Disability (ID) Multiple Disabilities (MD) Orthopedic impairment Other Health Impairment (OHI)

6. Eligibility – IDEA 2004 Specific Learning Disability (SLD) Specific Learning Disability (SLD) Speech or Language Impairment (SLI) Speech or Language Impairment (SLI) Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) Visual Impairment Developmental Delay

7. Evaluations Initial evaluation is required when there is reason to suspect that the child has a disability and needs special education. Initial evaluation is required when there is reason to suspect that the child has a disability and needs special education. Parent or District can initiate evaluation. Parent or District can initiate evaluation.

8. Evaluations Process Process District issues Permission to Evaluate (PTE) or Prior Written Notice for Evaluation and Request for Consent District issues Permission to Evaluate (PTE) or Prior Written Notice for Evaluation and Request for Consent Must be completed within 60 days from the date the District receives the signed PTE excluding the summer. Must be completed within 60 days from the date the District receives the signed PTE excluding the summer.

9. IEP: Individualized Education Plan Provided for eligible children ages 3-21. Provided for eligible children ages 3-21. Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) is provided to children ages birth to 3. Individual Family Service Plan (IFSP) is provided to children ages birth to 3.

10. IEP: Individualized Education Plan Defined: Individualized Education Program or IEP means a written statement for each child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in a meeting with parents and relevant professionals. Defined: Individualized Education Program or IEP means a written statement for each child with a disability that is developed, reviewed, and revised in a meeting with parents and relevant professionals.

11. Components of an IEP Special Considerations Special Considerations Present education levels Present education levels Annual goals Annual goals Short-term objectives required for students with ID Short-term objectives required for students with ID Transition Services- ages 14 and up Transition Services- ages 14 and up Specially designed instruction (SDIs) Specially designed instruction (SDIs) Related Services Related Services Type of placement Type of placement

12. Special Considerations Blind or Visually Impaired Blind or Visually Impaired Deaf or Hard of Hearing Deaf or Hard of Hearing Communication Needs Communication Needs Assistive Technology Assistive Technology Limited English Proficiency Limited English Proficiency Behaviors that impede learning or learning of others Behaviors that impede learning or learning of others Other Other http://www.pattan.k12.pa.us/category/Legal/Forms/Browse/Single/?id=53566eb88b0332 2c2b8b4569

13. IEP Goals SMART IEP goals are: SMART IEP goals are: Specific Specific Measurable Measurable Use Action words Use Action words Realistic Realistic Time-limited Time-limited http://www.wrightslaw.com http://www.wrightslaw.com

14. Specially Designed Instruction (SDIs) Aids, services, and other supports that are provided in regular education classes, other education-related settings, and in extracurricular and nonacademic settings Aids, services, and other supports that are provided in regular education classes, other education-related settings, and in extracurricular and nonacademic settings Accommodations/modifications to curriculum Accommodations/modifications to curriculum Direct services and supports to the child Direct services and supports to the child Support and training for staff Support and training for staff

15. SDIs Supports to address environmental needs Supports to address environmental needs Levels of staff support Levels of staff support Planning time for collaboration needed by staff Planning time for collaboration needed by staff Child’s specialized equipment Child’s specialized equipment Pacing of instruction Pacing of instruction Presentation of subject matter Presentation of subject matter Materials Materials Assignment modification Assignment modification Self-management and/or follow-through Self-management and/or follow-through Test adaptations Test adaptations Social interaction support Social interaction support

16. Related Services Audiology Audiology Counseling services Counseling services Early identification and assessment Early identification and assessment Interpreting services Interpreting services Diagnostic Medical services Diagnostic Medical services Occupational therapy Orientation and mobility services Parent counseling and training Physical therapy

17. Related Services Psychological services Psychological services Recreation Recreation Rehabilitation counseling services Rehabilitation counseling services Social work services Social work services School health services and school nurse services School health services and school nurse services Speech-language pathology Speech-language pathology Transportation Transportation

18. Type of Support based on need Learning Support Learning Support Life Skills Support Life Skills Support Emotional Support Emotional Support Deaf and Hearing Impaired Support Deaf and Hearing Impaired Support Blind and Visually Impaired Support Blind and Visually Impaired Support Speech and Language Support Physical Support Autistic Support Multiple Disabilities Support

19. Resources for Parents SPELL support group, meetings 3rd Tuesday monthly- www.berkscountyspell.org SPELL support group, meetings 3rd Tuesday monthly- www.berkscountyspell.org PA Department of Education- www.pde.state.pa.us PA Department of Education- www.pde.state.pa.us PaTTAN- www.pattan.net PaTTAN- www.pattan.net Office for Dispute Resolution- www.odr-pa.org Office for Dispute Resolution- www.odr-pa.org Education Law Center- www.elc-pa.org Education Law Center- www.elc-pa.org Wrightslaw- www.wrightslaw.com Wrightslaw- www.wrightslaw.com

20. Birth to Three Years (0 – 3) Service Access and Management, Inc. (SAM) 19 N. 6th St. STE 300, Reading Pa 19601 877-236-4600 or 610-236-0530 Three to Five Years (3 – 5) Berks County Intermediate Unit 14 1111 Commons Boulevard, PO Box 16050, Reading, PA 19612-6050 Early Intervention Program- 610-987-8543 E-mail: earlyinterventionreferral@berksiu.org earlyinterventionreferral@berksiu.org Five to Twenty-One Years (5 – 21) Contact the Special Education Director for the home school district. Contact information is located on the District’s website. Contact Information for Service Providers