| Are you the parent of a child that has autism, and is | | | | The Federal Register comments from OSEP also |
| receivingspecial education services? Are you a parent | | | | state "The publicagency also should provide the |
| that would like tounderstand Draft individual education | | | | parents with a copy of its draftproposals if the agency |
| plans (IEP), and how youcan use them to benefit your | | | | has developed them, prior to the IEPmeeting. . ." You |
| child. This article will help you learn about | | | | should request this in writing, and I wouldalso quote the |
| Draft IEP's, what the requirements are, and how to use | | | | comments from the Federal Register. Therequest |
| them tohelp your child's education. | | | | should include timelines; for Example "I will expectto |
| A draft IEP is an individual education plan that is filled | | | | receive a copy of the Draft IEP at the same time as |
| out inadvance, of the IEP meeting, for your child. Many | | | | my |
| parents wonderif it is legal for special education | | | | 10 day written notice of the IEP meeting." |
| personnel to do this. The Individualswith Disabilities | | | | The Federal Register also has OSEP stating "so as to |
| Education Act (IDEA), is silent on draft IEP's. | | | | give theparents an opportunity to review the |
| The Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP), | | | | recommendations of the publicagency prior to the IEP |
| which is part of the | | | | team meeting, and be better able to engage ina full |
| Department of Education stated in the Federal | | | | discussion of the proposals for the IEP." |
| Register Vol 71 August | | | | One way to use Draft IEP's to help your child, is to |
| 12, 2006 "We do not encourage public agencies to | | | | develop your owndraft IEP. Go to your state board of |
| prepare a draft IEPprior to the IEP team meeting. . ." | | | | education's Website, go tospecial education and then |
| So, draft IEP's are not illegal, but are discouraged by | | | | download an IEP form (Most states have an |
| OSEP. The | | | | IEP form available for downloading). Fill out the form, |
| Federal Register also states ". . .if a public agency | | | | with everythingthat you believe your child needs. |
| develops a draft | | | | Take the form with you to your child's IEP meeting, |
| IEP prior to the IEP meeting, the agency should make it | | | | and cross out eachsection as it is discussed. This will |
| clear to theparents at the outset of the meeting, that | | | | allow you to not only be anactive participant in your |
| the services proposed bythe agency are preliminary | | | | child's IEP, but also to have your inputheard. Also, |
| recommendations for review and discussionwith | | | | special education personnel cannot leave out |
| parents." Special education personnel rarely state this, | | | | importantparts of the IEP, as they do on occasion. Also |
| at thebeginning of a meeting, so you may have to | | | | by having your own |
| bring it up. The Federal | | | | Draft IEP filled out, you can advocate for your child |
| Register goes on to say "It is not permissible for an | | | | when specialeducation personnel want to change or |
| agency to havethe final IEP completed before an IEP | | | | decrease their educationalservices. |
| Team meeting begins." | | | | You can use Draft IEP's to help your child. |