Special Education & IEP Fundamentals – Memphis School of Excellence

Vocabulary flashcards covering key terms, roles, services, planning tools, and accommodations discussed in the Memphis School of Excellence special education presentation.

Individualized Education Program (IEP)

A legally binding plan that outlines goals, services, accommodations, and progress‐monitoring for a student with a disability.

IEP Process

Steps of identifying a student in need, evaluating for eligibility, writing the plan, obtaining parent approval, and reviewing yearly.

Eligibility Evaluation

Formal assessment of academic, social, emotional, and behavioral needs to determine if a student qualifies for special education services.

IEP Meeting

Required gathering where the student’s plan is written or updated; must include parents, a special education teacher, a general education teacher, and a principal or designee.

Parent Participation

Legal right of parents to help create, approve, receive copies of, and monitor progress toward their child’s IEP goals.

Special Education Teacher

Professional who delivers specialized instruction and collaborates on the development and implementation of the IEP.

General Education Teacher

Classroom instructor who provides grade‐level instruction and helps adapt lessons according to the student’s IEP.

Principal Designee

School administrator or representative who has the authority to commit resources and ensures IEP compliance.

Push-In Services

Support model in which the special education teacher works inside the general classroom, especially in Math or English.

Pull-Out Services

Support model in which students receive small-group or one-to-one instruction in a separate room (e.g., Room 105).

Transition Planning

Forward-looking section of the IEP that guides students toward post-secondary goals, driving the rest of the plan.

IEP-at-a-Glance

Concise document summarizing a student’s IEP; provided to teachers at the start of the year and after each IEP meeting.

Accommodation

Change in how a student learns material (e.g., extra time, preferential seating) without altering learning expectations.

Modification

Change in what a student is expected to learn (e.g., reduced number of problems) altering grade-level expectations.

Preferential Seating

Planned placement of a student to minimize distractions or meet specific sensory or behavioral needs.

Extended Time

Accommodation that allows students additional minutes or periods to complete classwork, homework, quizzes, or tests.

Read Aloud

Reading accommodation where test or text content is orally presented to assist comprehension.

Functional Behavior Assessment (FBA)

Data-driven process to identify the causes and purposes of challenging behaviors for targeted interventions.

Calm-Down Spot

Designated area a student may use for brief breaks to self-regulate emotions without disrupting the class.

Behavior Documentation

Consistent recording of behavior incidents, crucial for monitoring patterns and informing support strategies.