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8 Suggestions for IEP Reviews at the Start of the School Year

Do you do IEP reviews at the start of the school year?  As the new school year starts, it is important for related service providers, teachers, parents and students to review the IEP.  Reviewing IEP for multiple students can be very time consuming therefore in order to be productive focus on the important parts of the IEP.  Here are suggestions for IEP reviews at the start of the school year. 

Do you do IEP reviews at the start of the school year?  As the new school year starts, it is important for related service providers, teachers, parents and students to review the IEP.  Reviewing IEP for multiple students can be very time consuming therefore in order to be productive focus on the important parts of the IEP.  Here are suggestions for IEP reviews at the start of the school year.  Keep in mind the same tips can be applied to 504 Accommodation Plans.

SCHEDULE TIME TO REVIEW THE IEP

Schedule some time to review the IEP of any new students and old students.  For new students, this is an obvious first step to being informed about the student’s background information.  For students you are familiar with already it is still important to review the IEP.  It can be hard to remember what was placed on the IEPS if it was written months ago. If you didn’t service the students over the summer, contact the service provider from the summer for any updates. 

EDUCATE YOURSELF ON ANY MEDICAL CONDITIONS

If the student has any medical conditions, check it you need any further information.  You may need to educate yourself on the medical condition in order to provide the student and school staff with additional information.

CHECK ON ENVIRONMENTAL MODIFICATIONS

Review and highlight any environmental modifications for the student.  Make a list of students and classrooms that you will have to double check to ensure that the modifications are available to the student.

Create an action plan for implementing the modifications in the classroom.  Read more here.

READ THE PRESENT LEVELS OF PERFORMANCE

Review the present levels of academic achievement and functional performance.  For related service providers, this section is important for you to read and understand the student’s strengths and abilities.

DOUBLE CHECK SERVICES

Make sure the related services are listed correctly.  Errors occur when IEPs are finalized so double check that the services the team recommended are listed correctly. 

REVIEW GOALS

Review and highlight goals.  THIS IS THE MOST IMPORTANT STEP!  Make sure the goals are functional and measurable.  Read more on writing S.M.A.R.T. goals here.  For progress monitoring and data collection, take the time to enter the student’s goals into the software, spreadsheet or paper form that you will be using.  Document or highlight how often data needs to be collected regarding the goal i.e. biweekly.  By starting the school year out with a documentation system in place, you will save a significant amount of time.  Determine how often you need to send home progress reports on the goals.

REVIEW THE IEP WITH THE STUDENT

Review IEPs with the students to help them to understand their accommodations, modifications and goals.  This will help students develop self-advocacy and make sure the services that are on the IEP are being carried out to help with their educational needs.

DON’T JUDGE

Remember the IEP is an overview of the student.  Get to know the student and use the IEP to guide your action plan for the student but not to define the student.

Data Tracking Forms for School-Based Occupational and Physical Therapy Updated 2018

Data Tracking Forms for School-Based Occupational and Physical Therapy UPDATED 2018includes 10 data collection forms for monitoring progress in occupational and physical therapy in the school setting.  Document up to 4 IEP goals per student in your daily sessions in Excel and it will graph your data directly from your session notes.  These Data Tracking Forms for School-Based Occupational and Physical Therapy will make data collection so much easier!  FIND OUT MORE.

Do you do IEP reviews at the start of the school year?  As the new school year starts, it is important for related service providers, teachers, parents and students to review the IEP.  Reviewing IEP for multiple students can be very time consuming therefore in order to be productive focus on the important parts of the IEP.  Here are suggestions for IEP reviews at the start of the school year.