Mock IEP questions

Describe the three-step process that is the heart of the IEP

1. Address the needs the disability creates

2. What are we going to do about it

3. If we are successful, where will the student be a year from now(set goals)

IEPS are based on ________ and any _________

IEPS are based on the needs the disability creates and any behavior that impacts their learning or the learning of others

FAPE is the mandate, LRE is the preference. Explain. 

FAPE is about meeting the child’s needs. LRE is the idea that the least restrictive option is general education. We want to meet the child’s needs over LRE. 

Name five parts of the program summary and give an example of each

1. Supplementary aids and services- accommodations and supports to be inclusive. Audio format, notes provided, etc. 

2. SDI- instruction to meet a disability need or behavior. Instruction in coping and anxiety. The child is entitled to whatever instruction they need.

3. Related services- occupational therapy, physical therapy, counseling, and transportation.

4. program modifications- modifying the child’s program in relation to others, expectations change.

5. support for school personnel-what support do teachers need to support the IEP, having a para, for example. 

The law tells us the IEP has two legal purposes. What are they?

1. to meet the unique needs of the child regardless of what they are about

2. allow the child access to the general curriculum/gen ed

Placement is based on __________

a completed IEP

The IEP can change a child’s education vs. his or her peers in two (actually 3) ways. Name them.

1. change the curriculum 

2. change the setting 

3. or change both 

Give an example of “how far, by when” method of goals and benchmarks

If a student has 12 outbursts lasting ten minutes each, then by the end of the 1st quarter, the goal would be to have 10 outbursts at 8 minutes. By quarter 2, the student will have 8 outbursts lasting 6 minutes each. quarter 6 outbursts 4 minutes each. Quarter 4, 4 outbursts, 2 minutes each.

What must every academic present level of performance contain?

quantitative information, using data where is the child functioning, what is the benchmark expectation. qualitative information strengths and areas of instructional need

How can you determine what “ambitious but achievable” progress might be for a given student?

look at progress during RTI, progress during the last IEP, and the norms tables provided by tests to see what typical growth should be of the typical student. 

To which student with IEPs do we need to consider the impact of the child’s behavior?

all of them. IEPS have to address the child’s disability and the needs the disability creates. does his behavior impact the learning of others.

Name the three steps in the inclusion test from Hartmann V. Loudoun County

1. inclusion is not required when the student is making no gains in the gen ed setting.

2. any marginal benefit from gen ed would be outweighed by gains that could be made in SPED

3. the child is a disruptive force in reg ed

Explain how Loudoun County is an example of “What can you defend?”

1. look at the list of tangible things they did to make inclusion happen 

2. when the IEP isn’t working they propose something else and they proposed what the student needed even though they knew that the parent did not want it 

3. their integrity about what happened- the teacher admitted “I think we wasted a year of his time”. They were honest about what happened

How often must placement be determined?

placement must be determined annually. This is why IEP’s have end dates.

Describe how you will inform staff of their IEP responsibilities

brainstorm your own method. Give them an IEP at a glance.

Under what circumstances must an IEP be reviewed (and potentially revised)?

1. annually 

2. review and revise if there is a lack of expected progress toward annual goals 

3. lack of adequate progress in the general curriculum 

4. parent or teacher request 

5. anticipated needs

6. other matters(parent brought in an outside source, bullying, etc.)

7. results of an reevaluation 

TTrue or false: IEPs must meet every need of the child. Explain

False. We need to address the needs the disability creates and if their behavior impacts their learning or the learning of others.

What is he difference between accommodations and modifications. 

Accommodations level the playing field but maintain expectations. Modifications change expectations. 

Describe the role of the parents a the IEP meeting.

they are equal members of the team. We have to solicit their input and they are joint decision makers involving evaluation, identification, IEP development, placement, and discipline. When we reach an agreement, we need to follow FAPE. If a disagreement and a consensus cannot be reached, then we put FAPE on the table, and they pursue bringing an advocate, have a facilitated IEP team, go to mediation, make a state complaint, or go to due process.

Describe the importance of the legal requirement of providing prior written notice

The says we need to. Parents need to know in writing what we are doing about evaluation, identification, placement, and discipline and they need to have it in writing before it begins. They need to know what we are doing before we do it.